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We propose in this paper an efficient FALCON accelerator called EFX based on a HW/SW co-design where FALCON is a post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) scheme tailored as a digital signature algorithm (DSA). Our findings reveal that FALCON exhibits unique characteristics and structures which distinguish it from other PQC-DSAs. A key finding is that, unlike its counterparts, FALCON doesn’t prioritize a single, time-consuming task; instead, it processes a variety of tasks with comparable execution times. Consequently, the conventional methods focusing on accelerating dominant few tasks, which are generally effective for other algorithms, prove less efficient for FALCON, especially concerning the minimization of the silicon area used. To overcome this, we strategically focus on the granular optimization of lower-level operations rather than on broader functional segments, aiming to boost performance while conserving hardware space. Moreover, to mitigate the potential degradation due to limitation of hardware resources, we have implemented a pipelined execution strategy for the FALCON functions and refined the sampling function–a critical task that is challenging to accelerate due to inherent sequential algorithm–enabling it to run concurrently on both software and hardware, thus reducing latency. Our hardware design, synthesized at $300MHz$ using Samsung’s $28nm$ and $45nm$ process technologies, demonstrates superior performance in generating FALCON signatures, with a $3.58 \times $ improvement in clock cycles over an existing hardware accelerator. EFX occupies 38K $um ^{2}$ and 74K $um ^{2}$ for $28nm$ and $45nm$ processes, respectively, comparatively small compared to other PQC accelerators.

We examined the flux and composition of sinking particles collected at a water depth of 800 m in the northwest Pacific from November 2017 to August 2018 to assess the impact of dust deposition on organic carbon export. The fluxes of total particulate matter and particulate organic carbon averaged over the study period were 88 ± 63 mg m-2 d-1 and 9.0 ± 5.8 mg m−2 d−1, respectively. Biogenic particles accounted for 82% of the sinking particles, on average. There were two notable pulses in the particle fluxes of both biogenic and lithogenic material in February and May 2018. These flux peaks were decoupled from net primary production in the surface waters but coincided with intervals of high rates of atmospheric dust deposition. The biogenic component of the two peaks was dominated by two different phytoplankton communities, which may have influenced carbon export efficiency. Correlations between the sinking particle flux and the lithogenic flux are found at several locations in the northwest Pacific, implying that East Asian dust deposition has a prevalent influence on the biological pump. Attention should be paid to the effects of changes in the continental dust supply to the oceans on oceanic carbon export.

Purpose This study aimed to determine the effects of bilateral and unilateral eccentric exercises on muscle damage and muscular physiological indices in healthy men. Methods Using a randomized crossover design, nine adult males without musculoskeletal disorders were divided into a bilateral eccentric exercise group (BEG, n=9) and a unilateral eccentric exercise group (UEG, n=9). Bilateral and unilateral eccentric exercises involved five sets of six repetitions of the rhythm metronome speed eccentric contraction 3 seconds at 110% one repetition maximum (1RM) using bilateral of BEG and the dominant and non-dominant of UEG separated by four weeks, respectively. Muscle damage (flexed and extended ROM, CIR, and VAS) and muscular physiological indices (muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and muscle tone) were measured before, immediately after (0 hour), 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours following bilateral and unilateral eccentric exercises. Results The flexed ROM, CIR, VAS, muscle activity, and muscle tone were significantly increased after both bilateral and unilateral eccentric exercises (p

Polynomial multiplication is one of the heaviest operations for a lattice-based public key algorithm in Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). Many studies have been done to accelerate polynomial multiplication with newly developed hardware accelerators or special CPU instructions. However, another method utilizes previously implemented and commercial hardware accelerators for RSA/elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). Reusing an existing hardware accelerator is advantageous, not only for the cost benefit but also for the improvement in performance. In this case, the developer should adopt the most efficient implementation method for the functions provided by a given legacy hardware accelerator. It is difficult to find an optimized implementation for a given hardware accelerator because there are a variety of methods, and each method depends on the functions provided by the given accelerator. In order to solve the problem, we survey methods for polynomial multiplication using RSA/ECC coprocessors and their application for Learning With Error (LWE)-based KEM algorithms of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) PQC round 3 candidates. We implement all known methods for polynomial multiplication with RSA/ECC coprocessors in a platform, commercial mobile system-on-chip (SoC), the Exynos2100 Smart Secure Platform (SSP). We present and analyze the simulation results for various legacy hardware accelerators and give guidance for optimized implementation.

Abstract The negative impact of extreme high-temperature days (EHDs) on people’s livelihood has increased over the past decades. Therefore, an improved understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of EHDs is imperative to mitigate this impact. Herein, we classify the large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns associated with EHDs that occurred in South Korea from 1982 to 2018 using a self-organizing map (SOM) and investigate the dynamic mechanism for each cluster pattern through composite analysis. A common feature of all SOM clusters is the positive geopotential height (GPH) anomaly over the Korean Peninsula, which provides favorable conditions for EHDs through adiabatic warming caused by anomalous downward motion. Results show that Cluster 1 (C1) is related to the eastward-propagating wave train in the mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere, while Cluster 2 (C2) and 3 (C3) are influenced by a northward-propagating wave train forced by enhanced convection in the subtropical western North Pacific (WNP). Compared to C2, C3 exhibits strong and eastward-extended enhanced convection over the subtropical WNP, which generates an anomalous high-pressure system over the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, reinforcing EHDs via atmospheric blocking. Our results can contribute to the understanding of East Asia climate variability because wave trains influence the climate dynamics of this region.

Over the years, deep learning algorithms have advanced a lot and any innovation in the algorithms are demonstrated and benchmarked for image classification. Several other field including side-channel analysis (SCA) have recently adopted deep learning with great success. In SCA, the deep learning algorithms are typically working with 1-dimensional (1-D) data. In this work, we propose a unique method to improve deep learning based side-channel analysis by converting the measurements from raw-trace of 1-dimension data based on float or byte data into picture-formatted trace that has information based on the data position. We demonstrate why “Picturization” is more suitable for deep learning and compare how input and hidden layers interact for each raw (1-D) and picture form. As one potential application, we use a Binarized Neural Network (BNN) learning method that relies on a BNN's natural properties to improve variables. In addition, we propose a novel criterion for attack success or failure based on statistical confidence level rather than determination of a correct key using a ranking system.

Abstract This study compared the effects of open versus laparoscopic radical hysterectomy on intraoperative diaphragmatic excursion and lung compliance. We enrolled 20 women per group; Group O’s members underwent open radical hysterectomy, while Group L’s members underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. Diaphragmatic excursion was measured by assessing tidal ventilation using M-mode ultrasonography before intubation (T0), after intubation with mechanical ventilation (T1), 90 min after incision (T2), and at the end of the operation with recovery of muscle relaxation (T3). Peak inspiratory pressure and static lung compliance were measured using an anaesthesia machine combined with a ventilator. Diaphragmatic excursion was significantly lower in Group L than in Group O at T2 (5.3 ± 1.7 mm vs. 7.7 ± 2.0 mm, P

North Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is a commercially important tuna species known to undertake extensive migratory movements between nearshore waters of the California Current and offshore environments in the central Pacific. However, these migration behaviors are highly variable, with some individuals traveling thousands of kilometers within a season, and others largely resident in the southern California Current throughout the year. In this study, we use data from 33 archival-tagged albacore (released between 2003 and 2011) to examine the movements, physiology and ecology of tuna following different migratory pathways. We used direct measurements of body temperature and ambient water temperature from internal archival tags to estimate energy intake via the Heat Increment of Feeding (HIF), the increased internal heat production associated with digestion of a meal. Our results indicate that HIF was variable in space and time, but it was highest for individuals foraging in the offshore North Pacific Transition Zone and southern California Current during spring and summer, and lowest in the Transition Zone in fall. None of the migratory strategies examined appeared to confer consistently higher energetic benefits than the others. Fish remaining resident in the southern California Current year-round incurred lower migration costs, and could access favorable foraging conditions off Baja California in spring and summer. In contrast, fish which undertook longer migrations had much higher energetic costs during periods of faster transit times, but were able to reach highly productive foraging areas in the central and western Pacific. HIF was generally higher in larger fish, and when ambient temperatures were cooler, but was not strongly correlated with other environmental covariates. Our analyses offer new avenues for studying the physiology of wild tuna populations, and can complement diet and isotopic studies to further understanding of fish ecology.

The extension of seasonal to interannual prediction of the physical climate system to include the marine ecosystem has a great potential to inform marine resource management strategies. Along the east coast of Africa, recent findings suggest that skillful Earth system model (ESM)-based chlorophyll predictions may enable anticipation of fisheries fluctuations. The mechanisms underlying skillful chlorophyll predictions, however, were not identified, eroding confidence in potential adaptive management steps. This study demonstrates that skillful chlorophyll predictions up to two years in advance arise from the successful simulation of westward-propagating off-equatorial Rossby waves in the Indian ocean. Upwelling associated with these waves supplies nutrients to the surface layer for the large coastal areas by generating north- and southward propagating waves at the east African coast. Further analysis shows that the off-equatorial Rossby wave is initially excited by wind stress forcing caused by El Niño/Southern Oscillation-Indian Ocean teleconnections.

Marine extreme temperature events (METs), including marine heatwaves (MHWs) and cold spells, have recently gained much attention owing to their vital influence on the marine ecosystem and social economy. Since METs can alter the upper ocean stratification and wintertime convective mixing in the northwestern North Pacific subtropical gyre (NPSG), their activities may modulate phytoplankton blooms by regulating entrainment of the subtropical mode water (STMW) with high NO $_{3}^{-}$ . Furthermore, because STMW formed in the previous winter reemerges east of its formation site in the following winter, the METs activities imprinted in STMW affect phytoplankton blooms remote from its formation site. Here, we examined the relationship between the MET activities, STMW volume, and phytoplankton blooms using satellite observations and a data-assimilative coupled physical-biogeochemical model dataset. MET activities appearing in the STMW formation region during winter regulate the formation of STMW and the supply of NO $_{3}^{-}$ from the subsurface, with the latter controlling the spring/autumn blooms in that region under NO $_{3}^{-}$ -limited conditions. Subsequently, this water mass is transported eastward in the subsurface within the northern flank of the NPSG before reemerging east of the STMW formation site the following spring. This process results in a negative lag-correlation between MET activities and surface chlorophyll in the reemergence region; for example, MHWs in winter at the STMW formation site tend to lower the surface chlorophyll concentration one year later in the reemergence region. Our study suggests that the oceanic processes allow one year of predictability of the marine ecosystems by monitoring METs in the STMW formation site.

Abstract This paper introduces the Tropical Rain belts with an Annual cycle and a Continent Model Intercomparison Project (TRACMIP). TRACMIP studies the dynamics of tropical rain belts and their response to past and future radiative forcings through simulations with 13 comprehensive and one simplified atmosphere models coupled to a slab ocean and driven by seasonally varying insolation. Five idealized experiments, two with an aquaplanet setup and three with a setup with an idealized tropical continent, fill the space between prescribed‐SST aquaplanet simulations and realistic simulations provided by CMIP5/6. The simulations reproduce key features of present‐day climate and expected future climate change, including an annual‐mean intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) that is located north of the equator and Hadley cells and eddy‐driven jets that are similar to present‐day climate. Quadrupling CO2 leads to a northward ITCZ shift and preferential warming in Northern high latitudes. The simulations show interesting CO2‐induced changes in the seasonal excursion of the ITCZ and indicate a possible state dependence of climate sensitivity. The inclusion of an idealized continent modulates both the control climate and the response to increased CO2; for example, it reduces the northward ITCZ shift associated with warming and, in some models, climate sensitivity. In response to eccentricity‐driven seasonal insolation changes, seasonal changes in oceanic rainfall are best characterized as a meridional dipole, while seasonal continental rainfall changes tend to be symmetric about the equator. This survey illustrates TRACMIP's potential to engender a deeper understanding of global and regional climate and to address questions on past and future climate change.

Since 2002, there have been active discussions on template attacks due to the robust performance of such attacks. There are reports of numerous proposals to improve the accuracy of prediction model in order to identify the point of interest. To date, many researchers have only focused on the performance of template attacks. In this paper, we introduce a new approach to retrieve the secret information in key schedules, without the profiling phase utilizing secret information. The template attack allows us to reveal the correct key even though the encryption/decryption processes have powerful countermeasures. More precisely, if the templates are sufficiently built in loading/saving the public information, in the extraction phase, the templates already created can be applied to the identical operation about secret information, which allows us to retrieve the secret information even if the countermeasures are theoretically robust. This suggestion becomes another backdoor to avoid hardened countermeasures. In order to demonstrate our proposal, we consider the Advanced Encryption Standard key schedule as a target for attack; however, it cannot be the target of non-profiling attacks in general. Finally, the Hamming weight information of the correct key could be recovered in an XMEGA128 chip, without the secret information. Moreover, we concentrate on the potential possibility of our suggestion since the performance cannot outperform the original methods used in such attacks.

Major laparoscopic pelvic surgery requires steep Trendelenburg position with pneumoperitoneum for a long time. We investigated the effect of Trendelenburg position with pneumoperitoneum on diaphragmatic excursion and lung compliance during major laparoscopic pelvic surgery using M-mode sonography. Twenty patients undergoing elective pelviscopic radical hysterectomy were included in this study. Diaphragmatic excursion was measured at the following time points; after sedation, after intubation, 90 minutes after Trendelenburg position with pneumoperitoneum, and after operation with recovery of muscle relaxation. And lung compliance was measured using anesthetic machine under general anesthesia; after the intubation, 90 minutes after Trendelenburg position with pneumoperitoneum and after operation with recovery of muscle relaxation. In order to detect postoperative pulmonary complication, postoperative chest radiography was checked. Static lung compliance, dynamic lung compliance and diaphragmatic excursion were decreased during operation (P < 0.001, respectively). At the end of the operation with recovery of muscle relaxation, reduced diaphragmatic movement was not recovered as its excursion after sedation (P < 0.001). In conclusion, lung compliance was decreased following transiently decreased diaphragmatic excursion during major laparoscopic pelvic surgery.

A 56-year-old man with a rotator cuff injury, scheduled for arthroscopic reconstruction surgery, had a history of recurrent symptoms of eyeball pain and blurred vision for several years. After close examination, he was diagnosed with Posner-Schlossman syndrome. Three weeks before the scheduled surgery, his intraocular pressure (IOP) increased (> 30 mmHg) and he became extremely anxious about the surgery. We monitored his IOP intraoperatively and successfully completed general anesthesia without any sequelae. As Posner-Schlossman syndrome can present with severe complications that may lead to postoperative visual loss, intraoperative monitoring of intraocular monitoring and careful anesthetic management are crucial to protect vision.

Resection of large sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) in premature neonates has been associated with significant perinatal mortality, making this a high risk procedure requiring careful anesthetic management. Most deaths during resection of SCTs are due to cardiac arrest caused by electrolyte imbalances, such as hyperkalemia, and massive bleeding during surgery. We describe two premature neonates who experienced cardiac arrest, one due to hyperkalemia and the other not due to hyperkalemia, during excision of large, prenatally diagnosed SCTs. We present here the considerations for anesthesia in premature neonates with huge SCTs.

We report the complete mitochondrial genome of a hybrid snow crab between a female Chionoecetes opilio and male C. japonicus. The circular genome was 16,065 bp in length, and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. The composition and arrangement of its complete mitochondrial genome were very similar to that reported for the maternal species, C. opilio. The close genetic relationship is reflected in the phylogenetic tree and supports maternal inheritance patterns.

Introduction: Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) overexpression is a prognostic factor and a therapeutic target for breast cancer; however, anti-HER2 therapies are ineffective in patients with bladder cancer. The authors investigated the effect of HER2 overexpression (HER2+) on the prognosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent initial transurethral resection of bladder tumors between 2005 and 2013 and were registered in the Korea National Health Insurance Database, which provides data on overall survival (OS). Sixty-one patients with clinically nonmetastatic de novo MIBC were included in this study. As a subgroup, 33 patients who underwent immediate radical cystectomy (RC) were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify prognostic factors for survival. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to identify the favorable T stage. Results: Among the 61 patients with d-MIBC, 14 were HER2+ and 47 HER2-. Age less than 70 years [hazard ratio (HR): 0.312, CI: 0.16-0.59, P<0.001] and HER2+ status (HR: 0.40, CI: 0.19-0.85, P= 0.02) were favorable prognostic factors for OS after adjusting for clinical variables. In the RC subgroup, HER2+ status was a significant predictive factor for the pT2 stage (HR): 36.8, CI: 4.83-797.41, P<0.01). Age less than 70 years (HR: 0.15, CI: 0.05-0.42, P< 0.001) and HER2+ status (HR: 0.11, CI: 0.02-0.54, P =0.01) were favorable prognostic factors for OS after adjusting for RC pathological variables. Conclusions: HER2+ status could be a marker for an indolent subset of MIBC and could predict favorable survival regardless of RC status. Moreover, HER2+ status not only consistently predicted a favorable T stage after RC, but also predicted better survival than pathological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acanthogobius lactipes is a demersal, euryhaline fish belonging to the suborder Gobiodei. This study sequenced and described the complete mitochondrial genome of A. lactipes for the first time. The circular genome of A. lactipes is 16,592 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. The overall A, C, G, and T contents were 27.78, 27.31, 17.52, and 27.39%, respectively. Based on the 13 protein-coding genes, the phylogenetic tree showed that A. lactipes formed a well-supported cluster with the genus Acanthogobius and rooted with other family Oxudercidae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various research studies published in the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology that focus on predictors and indicators for improving postoperative outcomes. These studies explore topics such as the association between COVID-19 infections and postoperative mortality, the use of machine learning models to predict postoperative pain, the assessment of hemodynamic status after heart surgery, the impact of ventricular-arterial decoupling on postoperative outcomes after liver transplantation, and the relationship between hyperglycemia and postoperative delirium. The article emphasizes the importance of preoperative evaluations and the continuous research being conducted to discover appropriate predictors and indicators for improving postoperative outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

We present the first report of the complete mitochondrial genome of Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, which consists of 16,613 base pairs harboring 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). The overall base composition of the complete genome is A (27.15%), C (27.15%), T (26.77%), G (18.92%). The complete mitogenome of O. uncirostris amurensis, which was most closely related to O. bidens in the Bayesian inference tree, provides a better understanding of the phylogeny of the genus Opsariichthys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies investigating the correlation between spinal adenosine A1 receptors and vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) are limited. This study explored the role of intrathecal N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine R-(-)isomer (R-PIA) in the rat model of VIPN. Methods: Vincristine (100 μg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered for 10 days (two 5-day cycles with a 2-day pause) and VIPN was induced in rats. Pain was assessed by evaluating mechanical hyperalgesia, mechanical dynamic allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, cold allodynia, and mechanical static allodynia. Biochemically, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured in the tissue from beneath the sciatic nerve. Results: Vincristine administration resulted in the development of cold allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical dynamic allodynia, and mechanical static allodynia. Intrathecally administered R-PIA (1.0 and 3.0 μg/10 μl) reversed vincristine- induced neuropathic pain (cold and mechanical static allodynia). The attenuating effect peaked 15 min after intrathecal administration of R-PIA after which it decreased until 180 min. However, pretreatment with 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX, 10 μg/10 μl) 15 min before intrathecal R-PIA administration significantly attenuated the antiallodynic effect of R-PIA. This antiallodynic effect of intrathecal R-PIA may be mediated through adenosine A1 receptors in the spinal cord. Intrathecally administered R-PIA also attenuated vincristine-induced increases in TNF-α level and MPO activity. However, pretreatment with intrathecal DPCPX significantly reversed this attenuation. Conclusions: These results suggest that intrathecally administered R-PIA attenuates cold and mechanical static allodynia in a rat model of VIPN, partially due to its anti-inflammatory actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical utility of percentage of serum prostate-specific antigen (proPSA) to free PSA (%p2PSA) and the prostate health index (PHI) for predicting aggressive pathological outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) in Korean males. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational multicenter study included 160 Korean males who consecutively underwent RP. The predictive utility of preoperative %p2PSA and PHI for predicting the following pathological outcomes of RP including pT3 disease, pathologic Gleason sum =7, and Gleason sum upgrading was investigated using multivariate and decision-curve analyses. Results: The PHI and %p2PSA levels were significantly higher in patients with pT3 disease, pathologic Gleason sum =7, and Gleason sum upgrading. On univariate analysis, PHI was an accurate predictor of pT3 disease, pathologic Gleason sum =7, and Gleason sum upgrading. Multivariate and decision curve analyses revealed that inclusion of PHI to a base multivariate model including total PSA, percentage free PSA, PSA density, percentage of positive biopsy core, biopsy Gleason sum, and clinical stage factors significantly increased its predictive accuracy; %p2PSA showed a similar result. However, PHI was a more valuable predictor of pathological outcomes of RP. Conclusions: This study revealed PHI and %p2PSA as preoperative biomarkers of pathological outcomes in Korean males who underwent RP for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the current nationwide trend, efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) profiles of hormone treatment in real-world practice settings for prostate cancer (PCa) patients in Korea. A total of 292 men with any biopsy-proven PCa (TanyNanyMany) from 12 institutions in Korea were included in this multi-institutional, observational study of prospectively collected data. All luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists were allowed to be investigational drugs. Efficacy was defined as (1) the rate of castration (serum testosterone ≤50 ng dl-1) at 4-week visit and (2) breakthrough (serum testosterone >50 ng dl-1 after castration). Safety assessments included routine examinations for potential adverse events, laboratory tests, blood pressure, body weight, and bone mineral density (BMD, at baseline and at the last follow-up visit). QoL was assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26). The most common initial therapeutic regimen was LHRH agonist with anti-androgen (78.0%), and the most commonly used LHRH agonist for combination and monotherapy was leuprolide (64.0% for combination and 58.0% for monotherapy). The castration and breakthrough rates were 78.4% and 6.6%, respectively. The laboratory results related to dyslipidemia worsened after 4 weeks of hormone treatment. In addition, the mean BMD T-score was significantly lower at the last follow-up (mean: -1.950) compared to baseline (mean: -0.195). The mean total EPIC-26 score decreased from 84.8 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 12.2) to 78.3 (s.d.: 8.1), with significant deterioration only in the urinary domain (mean: 23.5 at baseline and 21.9 at the 4-week visit). These findings demonstrate the nationwide trend of current practice settings in hormone treatment for PCa in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kichulchoia brevifasciata is an endangered fish that is distributed across the Goheung Peninsula, South Korea. This is the first report of the complete mitochondrial genome of K. brevifasciata, which consists of 16,646 bp with 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). The overall base composition of the complete genome is A (29.57%), T (28.08%), G (16.54%), and C (25.80%), with a high A+T content of 57.65%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that K. brevifasciata was most closely related to K. multifasciatas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the hybrid grouper Hyporthodus septemfasciatus (♀)×Epinephelus moara (♂) was obtained by next-generation sequencing. The mitochondrial genome was 16,499 bp long, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). The overall base composition is 28.62% A, 28.27% C, 16.27% G, and 26.84% T with 55.46% A þ T. In the maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis, the hybrid grouper belonged to the same clade as H. septemfasciatus (maternal inheritance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the necessity, to date, no detailed database of prostate cancer, especially one that includes clinicopathological data, has been created in Korea. For that reason, the Korean Urological Oncology Society (KUOS) decided to create the Korean Prostate Cancer Database (KPCD). Materials and Methods: The KPCD program was introduced in 2010. After considering regional distribution, a total of 20 hospitals participated in the KPCD. The Database consists of 4 domains (demographic, pretreatment, treatment, and follow-up data) and 135 variables. Results: In total, 7,608 men with prostate cancer between 2000 and 2010 were registered in the KPCD. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 67.6±7.7 years. The mean PSA at diagnosis was 74.0±366.9 ng/mL, and the proportions of patients with Gleason scores of ≤6, 7, and 8-10 were 37.0%, 26.7%, and 34.2%, respectively. At diagnosis, 62.3% of the patients had localized tumors, 14.6% had regional, 12.8% had distant, and 10.4% cases were from unknown diseases. With regards to the initial treatment modality employed, 1.3% of patients were managed with active surveillance, 62.1% underwent surgery, 4.3% underwent radiotherapy, 27.1% had androgen deprivation therapy, and 5.2% underwent unknown therapies. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate of patients in the KPCD was 98.6% in the localized stage, 94.8% in the regional stage, 74.7% in the distant stage, and 86.9% in the unknown stage. Conclusions: The KUOS created a relatively successful database of patients with prostate cancer in Korea. The KPCD will continue to improve the availability of data regarding prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective was to investigate the impact of statin use on prognosis after radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of medical records identified 277 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy for primary UTUC at Asan Medical Center between January 2006 and December 2011. Information on preoperative statin use was obtained from patient charts in an electronic database. We assessed the impact of statin use on recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Results: Of these 277 patients, 62 (22.4%) were taking statin medications. Compared to the statin nonusers, the statin users were older, had a higher body mass index, and had higher rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The 5-year RFS rates of statin users and nonusers were 78.5% and 72.5%, respectively (p=0.528); the 5-year CSS rates were 85.6% and 77.7%, respectively (p=0.516); and the 5-year OS rates were 74.5% and 71.4%, respectively (p=0.945). In the multivariate analysis, statin use was not an independent prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio, 0.47; p=0.056), CSS (hazard ratio, 0.46; p=0.093), or OS (hazard ratio, 0.59; p=0.144) in patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC. Conclusions: Statin use was not associated with improved RFS, CSS, or OS in the sample population of patients with UTUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare perioperative outcomes between running and interrupted vesicourethral anastomosis in open radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and Methods: The medical records of 112 patients who underwent open RP for prostate cancer at our institution from 2006 to 2008 by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters were measured. Results: Of 112 consecutive patients, 62 patients underwent vesicourethral anastomosis by use of the running technique, whereas 50 patients underwent anastomosis with the interrupted technique. The groups did not differ significantly in age, body mass index, prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, or pathologic findings. The intraoperative extravasation rate was significantly lower in the running group (8.1% vs. 24.0%, p=0.01). The mean anastomosis time was 15.1±5.3 and 19.3±4.6 minutes in the running and interrupted groups, respectively (p=0.04). The rates of postoperative extravasation were similar for both groups (6.4% vs. 10.0%, p=0.12). The duration of catheterization was significantly shorter in the running group (9.0±3.0 days vs. 12.9±6.4 days, p<0.01). The rate of urinary retention after catheter removal and the rate of bladder neck contracture were not significantly different between the two groups. The rate of urinary continence at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after RP was also similar in both groups. Conclusions: Both anastomosis techniques provided similar functional results and a similar rate of postoperative urine extravasation. However, running vesicourethral anastomosis decreased the rate of intraoperative extravasation and time for anastomosis, without increasing the risk of urinary retention or bladder neck contracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton have attracted increasing attention in climate science due to their impacts on climate systems. A new generation of climate models can now provide estimates of future climate change, considering the biological feedbacks through the development of the coupled physical-ecosystem model. Here we present the geophysical impact of phytoplankton, which is often overlooked in future climate projections. A suite of future warming experiments using a fully coupled ocean-atmosphere model that interacts with a marine ecosystem model reveals that the future phytoplankton change influenced by greenhouse warming can amplify Arctic surface warming considerably. The warming-induced sea ice melting and the corresponding increase in shortwave radiation penetrating into the ocean both result in a longer phytoplankton growing season in the Arctic. In turn, the increase in Arctic phytoplankton warms the ocean surface layer through direct biological heating, triggering additional positive feedbacks in the Arctic, and consequently intensifying the Arctic warming further. Our results establish the presence of marine phytoplankton as an important potential driver of the future Arctic climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to research report the complete 16,563 bp mitochondrial genome of Coreoleuciscus aeruginos, which consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region (D-loop). The overall base composition of the complete genome is 31.0% A, 28.04% T, 16.27% G, and 24.69% C, with a high A þ T content of 59.04%. According to our phylogenetic analysis, C. aeruginos is most closely related to Coreoleuciscus splendidus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lamotrigine, a novel anticonvulsant, is a sodium channel blocker that is efficacious in certain forms of neuropathic pain. Recently, microglial and astrocytic activation has been implicated in the development of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. We have assessed the effects of continuous intrathecal administration of lamotrigine on the development of neuropathic pain and glial activation induced by L5/6 spinal-nerve ligation in rats. Materials and Methods: Following left L5/6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL), Sprague-Dawley male rats were intrathecally administered lamotrigine (24, 72, or 240 µg/day) or saline continuously for 7 days. Mechanical allodynia of the left hind paw to von Frey filament stimuli was determined before surgery (baseline) and once daily for 7 days postoperatively. On day 7, spinal activation of microglia and astrocytes was evaluated immunohistochemically, using antibodies to the microglial marker OX-42 and the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results: Spinal-nerve ligation induced mechanical allodynia in saline-treated rats, with OX-42 and GFAP immunoreactivity being significantly increased on the ipsilateral side of the spinal cord. Continuously administered intrathecal lamotrigine (240 µg/day) prevented the development of mechanical allodynia, and lower dose of lamotrigine (72 µg/day) ameliorated allodynia. Intrathecal lamotrigine (72 and 240 µg/day) inhibited nerve ligation-induced microglial and astrocytic activation, as evidenced by reduced numbers of cells positive for OX-42 and GFAP. Conclusion: Continuously administered intrathecal lamotrigine blocked the development of mechanical allodynia induced by SNL with suppression of microglial and astrocytic activation. Continuous intrathecal administration of lamotrigine may be a promising therapeutic intervention to prevent neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which determined the interannual relationship between chlorophyll concentrations in the western North Pacific and tropical cyclones (TC) in the area. Based on the results, the long-term chlorophyll variability in the western North Pacific is linked to the long-term variability in the frequency of TCs. It was also observed that the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) showed that there is substantial climatic relationship between TC activity and marine phytoplankton. The data was obtained from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) from the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Inflammatory pain, such as arthritis pain, is a growing health problem. Inflammatory pain is generally treated with opioids and cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, but both are limited by side effects. Recently, resolvins, a unique family of lipid mediators, including RvE1 and RvD1 derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, have shown marked potency in treating disease conditions associated with inflammation. Here we report that peripheral (intraplantar) or spinal (intrathecal) administration of RvE1 or RvD1 in mice potently reduces inflammatory pain behaviors induced by intraplantar injection of formalin, carrageenan or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), without affecting basal pain perception. Intrathecal RvE1 injection also inhibits spontaneous pain and heat and mechanical hypersensitivity evoked by intrathecal capsaicin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). RvE1 has anti-inflammatory activity by reducing neutrophil infiltration, paw edema and proinflammatory cytokine expression. RvE1 also abolishes transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype-1 (TRPV1)- and TNF-α–induced excitatory postsynaptic current increases and TNF-α–evoked N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor hyperactivity in spinal dorsal horn neurons via inhibition of the extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. Thus, we show a previously unknown role for resolvins in normalizing the spinal synaptic plasticity that has been implicated in generating pain hypersensitivity. Given the potency of resolvins and the well-known side effects of opioids and COX inhibitors, resolvins may represent new analgesics for treating inflammatory pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study showed that activation of c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) in spinal astrocytes plays an important role in neuropathic pain sensitization.Wefurther investigated how JNK regulates neuropathic pain. In cultured astrocytes, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) transiently activated JNK via TNF receptor-1. Cytokine array indicated that the chemokine CCL2/MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) was strongly induced by the TNF-α/JNK pathway. MCP-1 upregulation by TNF-α was dose dependently inhibited by the JNK inhibitors SP600125 (anthra[1,9-cd]pyrazol-6(2H)-one) and D-JNKI-1. Spinal injection of TNF-α produced JNK-dependent pain hypersensitivity and MCP-1 upregulation in the spinal cord. Furthermore, spinal nerve ligation (SNL) induced persistent neuropathic pain and MCP-1 upregulation in the spinal cord, and both were suppressed by D-JNKI-1. Remarkably, MCP-1 was primarily induced in spinal cord astrocytes after SNL. Spinal administration of MCP-1 neutralizing antibody attenuated neuropathic pain. Conversely, spinal application of MCP-1 induced heat hyperalgesia and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in superficial spinal cord dorsal horn neurons, indicative of central sensitization (hyperactivity of dorsal horn neurons). Patch-clamp recordings in lamina II neurons of isolated spinal cord slices showed that MCP-1 not only enhanced spontaneous EPSCs but also potentiated NMDA- and AMPA-induced currents. Finally, the MCP-1 receptor CCR2 was expressed in neurons and some non-neuronal cells in the spinal cord. Together, we have revealed a previously unknown mechanism of MCP-1 induction and action. MCP-1 induction in astrocytes after JNK activation contributes to central sensitization and neuropathic pain facilitation by enhancing excitatory synaptic transmission. Inhibition of the JNK/ MCP-1 pathway may provide a new therapy for neuropathic pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of neuropathic pain, triggered by multiple insults to the nervous system, is a clinical challenge because the underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain development remain poorly understood. Most treatments do not differentiate between different phases of neuropathic pain pathophysiology and simply focus on blocking neurotransmission, producing transient pain relief. Here, we report that early- and late-phase neuropathic pain development in rats and mice after nerve injury require different matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). After spinal nerve ligation, MMP-9 shows a rapid and transient upregulation in injured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) primary sensory neurons consistent with an early phase of neuropathic pain, whereas MMP-2 shows a delayed response in DRG satellite cells and spinal astrocytes consistent with a late phase of neuropathic pain. Local inhibition of MMP-9 by an intrathecal route inhibits the early phase of neuropathic pain, whereas inhibition of MMP-2 suppresses the late phase of neuropathic pain. Further, intrathecal administration of MMP-9 or MMP-2 is sufficient to produce neuropathic pain symptoms. After nerve injury, MMP-9 induces neuropathic pain through interleukin-1β cleavage and microglial activation at early times, whereas MMP-2 maintains neuropathic pain through interleukin-1β cleavage and astrocyte activation at later times. Inhibition of MMP may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neuropathic pain at different phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halocynthia hilgendorfi ritteri is an ascidian distributed on the coast of Geoje Island in Korea and found on rocks. The mitochondrial genome of Halocynthia hilgendorfi ritteri consists of 15,181 bp with 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 23 transfer RNA genes. The overall base composition of the complete genome is 22.94% A, 43.32% T, 25.72% G, and 8.02% C, with a high AþT content of 66.26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the novel hybrid grouper (Hyporthodus septemfasciatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂) includes 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 control region (D-loop) for a total length of 16,559 bp. The overall nucleotide composition encoded on the heavy strand comprises 28.64% A, 28.26% C, 16.26% G, and 26.84% T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]