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The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CAEC (Canavalia gladiata arctium lappa extract complex) in adults with white blood cells between 3 and 8 × 103 cells/µL by assessing natural killer (NK) cell activity and immune-related biomarkers. Overall, 100 participants (CAEC group = 50, placebo group = 50) were randomised, and administered CAEC or placebo once daily for 8 weeks, with an evaluation visit performed every 4 weeks. NK cell activity, the primary outcome, significantly increased in CAEC when compared with the placebo at effector-to-target (E:T) ratios of 25:1 and 50:1 after 8 weeks. Compared with the placebo group, IL-10 demonstrated significant differences at week 8 in the CAEC group. Our findings demonstrate that CAEC is safe and enhances immune function by stimulating NK cell activity through IL-10 expression. Hence, we anticipate that CAEC can be developed as a functional food for stimulating immunity.

This study proposes a method to construct a dynamic simulation model to implement the lateral overturning and backward rollover characteristics of an actual tractor. Based on theoretical analysis, factors affecting these characteristics are identified, which include tractor weight, track width, wheelbase, location of mass center, weight distribution, heights of front and rear axles, and geometric shapes. The location of the mass center of the actual tractor is measured based on the standard test procedure set by the International Organization for Standardization, and the remaining influencing factors are derived through measurements. A three-dimensional (3D) model of the tractor is constructed to reflect all these factors. Additionally, a simulation model utilizing this 3D model is developed using a commercial dynamic simulation software program. The ability of the model to simulate the overturning and rollover characteristics of the actual tractor is verified by comparing the static sidelong falling angle and minimum turning radius with those of the actual tractor. The errors between the characteristics of the actual tractor and those of the 3D model and dynamic simulations are shown to be less than 5%, thus indicating that the proposed method can effectively simulate the overturning and rollover characteristics of the actual tractor.

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All mycobacteriophages characterized to date are dsDNA tailed phages, and have either siphoviral or myoviral morphotypes. However, their genetic diversity is considerable, and although sixty-two genomes have been sequenced and comparatively analyzed, these likely represent only a small portion of the diversity of the mycobacteriophage population at large. Here we report the isolation, sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of 18 new mycobacteriophages isolated from geographically distinct locations within the United States. Although no clear correlation between location and genome type can be discerned, these genomes expand our knowledge of mycobacteriophage diversity and enhance our understanding of the roles of mobile elements in viral evolution. Expansion of the number of mycobacteriophages grouped within Cluster A provides insights into the basis of immune specificity in these temperate phages, and we also describe a novel example of apparent immunity theft. The isolation and genomic analysis of bacteriophages by freshman college students provides an example of an authentic research experience for novice scientists.

In this study, to evaluate the safety of the fastening device, which is a vulnerable part of the agricultural by-product collector, the stress in fastening devices was measured, and the operational and driving safety were analyzed by deriving the static safety factor and fatigue life. The position with the maximum stress in fastening devices was identified through structural analysis simulation, and a stress measurement system was constructed using strain gauges. Test conditions for stress measurement were classified into three operating conditions (collection operation, driving with the loading part lifted to the highest point, and driving with the loading part lifted to the lowest point) and three soil conditions (even pavement, sloped pavement, and farmland). A process for deriving the fatigue life based on the measured stress was constructed by applying the rain-flow counting method, Goodman equation, and Palmgren–Miner’s rule via commercial software. From the stress measurement results, the collection operation exhibited the highest maximum stress, followed by driving with the loading part lifted to the highest point and driving with the loading part lifted to the lowest point. Under all conditions, the static safety factor of the fastening devices was found to be higher than 1.0 (1.16–1.33). The fatigue life of the fastening devices was also found to be longer than the service life of Korean agricultural machinery under all operating conditions. Therefore, the fastening devices are expected to operate safely under generated static and dynamic loads. The agricultural by-product collector can perform agricultural work and drive stably and is expected to contribute to reducing unnecessary labor force for Korean farms.

Purpose: This study was done to identify the level of knowledge, attitude and performance ability in CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and provided data for the development of an education program to improve CPR performance ability of nursery teachers. Methods: The participants were 220 nursery teachers working in daycare centers in A city located in G province. Data were collected during July, 2013. Results: The mean scores were 45.88 of 100 for knowledge, 3.69 of 5 for attitude, 2.65 of 5 for performance ability. There were significant differences in knowledge and performance ability according to education experience. There were positive correlations between knowledge and performance ability, and between attitude and performance ability. Factors affecting CPR performance ability were knowledge (β=.133), attitude (β=.327), and education in CPR (β=.343). These factors explained 29.4% of the variance in CPR performance ability. Conclusion: Results indicate that nursery teachers' knowledge, attitude and CPR performance ability were not sufficient enough to perform accurate CPR in an emergency. Therefore, to improve performance ability of nursery teachers to carry out CPR in a cardiac arrest emergency of a child, educational strategies that focus on increasing knowledge and attitude need to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this study self-efficacy, emotional labor, pediatric nurse-parent partnership and job stress of pediatric nurses were examined. Factors affecting job stress of pediatric nurses were also investigated. Methods: The study was done between June and September 2014, with a convenience sample of 145 nurses from 3 advanced general hospitals, 5 general hospitals and 2 children’s hospitals. Research data were collected via questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version 18.0. Results: Average levels of self-efficacy, emotional labor and job stress were similar to other general nurses and the average level of pediatric nurse-parent partnership was also similar to other pediatric nurses. Job stress of pediatric nurses showed a positive correlation with emotional labor and negative correlations with self-efficacy and pediatric nurse-parent partnership. The most significant factor affecting job stress in pediatric nurses was emotional labor (β = 0.372, p < .001). The combination of emotional labor, pediatric nurse-parent partnership and self-efficacy accounted for 25.4% of job stress in pediatric nurses. Conclusion: These results suggest that nursing management strategies to decrease emotional labor and improve pediatric nurse-parent partnerships and self-efficacy are critical to decrease job stress for pediatric nurses. Continued development of nursing management interventions to decrease job stress in pediatric nurses is suggested.