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BackgroundThe two-dimensional (2D)-based left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder (LAAO) size determination by using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is limited by the structural complexity and wide anatomical variation of the LAA.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the accuracy of the LAAO size determination by implantation simulation by using a three-dimensional (3D)-printed model compared with the conventional method based on TEE.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients with anatomically and physiologically properly implanted the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug and Amulet LAAO devices between January 2014 and December 2018 by using the final size of the implanted devices as a standard for size prediction accuracy. The use of 3D-printed model simulations in device sizing was compared with the conventional TEE-based method.ResultsA total of 28 cases with the percutaneous LAA occlusion were reviewed. There was a minimal difference [−0.11 mm; 95% CI (−0.93, 0.72 mm); P = 0.359] between CT-based reconstructed 3D images and 3D-printed left atrium (LA) models. Device size prediction based on TEE measurements showed poor agreement (32.1%), with a mean difference of 2.3 ± 3.2 mm [95% CI (−4.4, 9.0)]. The LAAO sizing by implantation simulation with 3D-printed models showed excellent correlation with the actually implanted LAAO size (r = 0.927; bias = 0.7 ± 2.5). The agreement between the 3D-printed and the implanted size was 67.9%, with a mean difference of 0.6 mm [95% CI (−1.9, 3.2)].ConclusionThe use of 3D-printed LA models in the LAAO size determination showed improvement in comparison with conventional 2D TEE method.

Obesity is a burden to global health. Non-shivering thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) is a novel strategy for obesity treatment. Anmyungambi (AMGB) decoction is a multi-herb decoction with clinical anti-obesity effects. Here, we show the effects of AMGB decoction using high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL6/J mice. All four versions of AMGB decoction (100 mg/kg/day, oral gavage for 28 days) suppressed body weight gain and obesity-related blood parameters in the HFD-fed obese mice. They also inhibited adipogenesis and induced lipolysis in inguinal WAT (iWAT). Especially, the AMGB-4 with 2:1:3:3 composition was the most effective; thus, further studies were performed with the AMGB-4 decoction. The AMGB-4 decoction displayed a dose-dependent body weight gain suppression. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and blood glucose decreased as well. In epididymal WAT, iWAT, and BAT, the AMGB-4 decoction increased lipolysis markers. Additionally, the AMGB-4 decoction-fed mice showed an increased non-shivering thermogenic program in BAT and iWAT. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppressed antioxidative factors induced by the HFD feeding were also altered to normal levels by the AMGB-4 decoction treatment. Overall, our study supports the clinical use of AMGB decoction for obesity treatment by studying its mechanisms. AMGB decoction alleviates obesity through the activation of the lipolysis–thermogenesis program and the elimination of pathological ROS in thermogenic adipose tissues.

Backgrounds: Ephedrae Herba is widely used to treat obesity. There is a concern for adverse events (AEs) using it and we need to develop strategies to attenuate it without its effectiveness for weight-reducing potential. We investigated the effects of a combination of Ephedra Herba with Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex (Anmyungambi (AMGB) decoction) in reducing the incidence of Ephedra Herba-related AEs. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review from a clinical case series of patients visiting the Jaonmi Korean Medicine Clinic (Seoul, Korea). The inclusion criteria was patients who were prescribed AMGB decoction, (containing Ephedrae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, and Zhizichi decoction [Gardeniae Fructus, and Glycine Semen Preparata] in different proportions) for weight reduction. Exclusion of Phellodendri Cortex in the original AMGB preparation was allowed; conventional medications, acupuncture, and dietary supplements were not allowed. The primary outcome was absolute weight loss at the end of treatment. Results: Twenty-seven patients (6 men and 21 women), aged 18–75 years (mean age, 42.6 ± 11.1 years) and the average treatment duration was 39.4 days. Absolute weight loss at the end of treatment was 4.49 ± 2.40 kg. Fifteen patients lost more than 5% weight (55.6%). Treatment >45 days resulted in significantly greater weight loss compared to treatment

In the 21st century, green consumer behavior, playing one of the core roles of sustainability, is still an important issue to green-related stakeholders. Because one of the major objectives of green-consumer research is an improvement of behaviors aligned with greening, this paper revisited socio-demographic variables and shed light on segmenting and profiling green consumers based on their connectedness between socio-demographic variables and green behaviors. Using correlations, factor analysis, analysis of variance, k-means cluster analysis and χ²-tests, this paper shows that socio-demographic variables differentially impact green-consumer behaviors. In order to profile green consumers, this paper additionally attempts to segment green-consumer groups. The results also coincide with former findings that socio-demographic variables relate significantly with segmented green-consumer group behaviors. General findings are summarized as: 1) older people used green practices more strongly than younger people, 2) females demonstrated better energy-saving and recycling practices compared to males, 3) marital status also significantly influenced green-related behaviors, 4) subjective social class had a significant influence on green-related behaviors, 5) education level and income, however, weakly influenced or showed no impact on green-related behaviors, and 6) a green consumer was classified as an ‘active green consumer," ‘utilitarian green consumer," or ‘inactivated green consumer." The utilitarian green consumer group distinctively behaved more strongly in energy-saving and recycling practices compared to the inactivated green consumer group, whereas active green consumers behaved more strongly on the whole, when compared to those in the inactivated green consumer group.

Background/AimsThis study investigated the antiviral effects of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy in nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naive and NA-experienced chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.MethodsCHB patients treated with TDF monotherapy (300 mg/day) for ≥12 weeks between December 2012 and July 2014 at a single center were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical, biochemical, and virological parameters were assessed every 12 weeks.ResultsIn total, 136 patients (median age 49 years, 96 males, 94 HBeAg positive, and 51 with liver cirrhosis) were included. Sixty-two patients were nucleos(t)ide (NA)-naïve, and 74 patients had prior NA therapy (NA-exp group), and 31 patients in the NA-exp group had lamivudine (LAM)-resistance (LAM-R group). The baseline serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level was 4.9±2.3 log IU/mL (mean±SD), and was higher in the NA-naïve group than in the NA-exp and LAM-R groups (5.9±2.0 log IU/mL vs 3.9±2.0 log IU/mL vs 4.2±1.7 log IU/mL, P

An adaptive method for joint compensation is derived for power amplifier nonlinearity and quadrature modulation/demodulation errors. The method shows faster convergence and better performance.

A non-data-aided (NDA) in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) mismatch estimator is derived by using the statistical independence between desired and image signals. It is shown that the image rejection ratio (IRR) of the proposed method has decreased monotonically with the number of samples for estimation, while that of conventional methods have displayed some floor.

A digital signal processing (DSP) technique is presented that can compensate for the in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) mismatch in low-intermediate frequency (IF) receivers. In particular, a non-data-aided (NDA) I/Q mismatch estimator is derived by exploiting the statistical independence between desired and image signals. The proposed technique obtains two baseband signals (uncompensated desired and image signals) from a digital IF signal and processes them to estimate and compensate for the I/Q mismatch. The mean-square error (MSE) of the estimate is analyzed. Computer simulation results indicate that the proposed technique can outperform existing adaptive DSP techniques that are based on the use of blind signal separation algorithms. It is observed that the image rejection ratio (IRR) of the proposed technique decreases monotonically with the number of observed samples for estimation, while that of conventional methods exhibits some floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for selecting a training sequence (TS) is developed for frequency estimation in frequency-selective channels. An expression for the unconditional Cramér-Rao bound (UCRB) is obtained by averaging the CRB for frequency estimation over the probability density function of Gaussian random channels. In addition, a necessary and sufficient condition for minimizing the UCRB is derived. Based on these results, a procedure for selecting a TS is developed. Through a computer search, binary TSs up to length 24 are found and tabulated. It is observed that periodic TSs tend to be selected when the TS length is twice the channel duration. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed TSs can enhance the performance of the maximum likelihood (ML) frequency estimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Hangangchal 1' is a new glutinous rice cultivar of second generation Tongil-type with a mid-maturing ecotype that developed by the rice breeding team of Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute (YARI), RDA. in 2006. This cultivar was derived from a cross between 'Hangangchal', a Tongil-type glutinous cultivar and 'YR8208-20', a high yield potential in 1986/1987 winter season. 'Hangangchal 1' was selected by pedigree and bulk breeding methods from F3 to F6 populations. A promising line, YR10498-8-1-3, was selected and designated as 'Milyang 167' in 1997. The local adaptability test of 'Milyang 167' was carried out at seven locations during 3 years in 1998, 2005, and 2006. It has tolerance to lodging with good canopy architecture as 87cm of culm length. This cultivar is resistant to bacterial blight K1, K2, and K3 race, rice stripe virus, rice dwarf virus, and leaf blast disease. The milled rice endosperm of 'Hangangchal 1' is glutinous and its whiteness was almost similar compared to 'Shinseonchalbyeo'. The yield of milled rice of 'Hangangchal 1' was average 5.97 MT/ha at ordinary cultivation of 9 kg/10a N fertilizer level in local adaptability test. This cultivar would be adaptable to the mid and southern plain of Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Josaengheugchal', a new blackish purple pigmented glutinous japonica rice cultivar, was developed by the rice breeding team of Department of Functional Crop, NICS, RDA in 2004. This cultivar was derived from a cross between 'Tohoku 149' as black glutinous source and 'Sx 864' as purple colored rice in 1992 and 1993 winter season, and selected by pedigree breeding method until F6 generation. As a result, a promising line, YR15907-6-8-1-5, was advanced and designated as the name of 'Milyang 194' in 2001. The local adaptability test of 'Milyang 194' was carried out at seven locations from 2002 to 2004 and it was named as 'Josaengheugchal'. 'Josaengheugchal' is an early maturing cultivar and has 71 cm culm height. It has higher anthocyanian content compared with 'Heugnambyeo'. It is moderately resistant to leaf blast but susceptible to other disease and insect pests. The yield potential of 'Josaengheugchal' in brown rice was about 4.21 MT/ha at ordinary fertilizer level in local adaptability test. This cultivar would be adaptable to the plain paddy field of middle, Honam, and Yeomgnam in Korea under ordinary and double cropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]