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Purpose To evaluate in pediatric patients the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected appendicitis and its negative appendectomy rate. Materials and Methods The study involved diagnostic accuracy studies that used MRI for pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis. Various field strengths and sequences were used in each included study. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI in pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis and negative appendectomy rate were assessed. A search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was performed until January 10, 2017. Two reviewers assessed the methodological quality of the articles using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for appendicitis diagnosis were calculated using hierarchical logistic regression modeling. Meta-regression was performed to explore factors affecting study heterogeneity. The pooled negative appendectomy rate was analyzed. Results Thirteen original articles with 1946 patients were included. The summary sensitivity and specificity were 97% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95–98%) and 97% (95% CI, 93–98%), respectively; the area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97–0.99). In meta-regression, use of diffusion-weighted imaging (P

In this study, we demonstrate an original elaboration route for producing a Mn-doped Ge self-assembled quantum dots on SiO 2 thin layer for MOS structure. These magnetic quantum dots are elaborated using dewetting phenomenon at solid state by Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) annealing at high temperature of an amorphous Ge:Mn (Mn: 40%) nanolayer deposed at very low temperature by high-precision Solid Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy on SiO 2 thin film. The size of quantum dots is controlled with nanometer scale precision by varying the nominal thickness of amorphous film initially deposed. The magnetic properties of the quantum-dots layer have been investigated by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to examine the nanostructure of these materials. Obtained results indicate that GeMn QDs are crystalline, monodisperse and exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior with a Curie temperature (TC) above room temperature. They could be integrated into spintronic technology.

We report on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance and stability of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS)-based photocathodes for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water. Various functional overlayers, such as CdS, TiO2, ZnxSnyOz, and a combination of the aforementioned, were applied on the CIGS to improve the performance and stability. We identified that the insertion of TiO2 overlayer on p-CIGS/n-buffer layers significantly improves the PEC performance. A multilayered photocathode consisting of CIGS/CdS/TiO2/Pt exhibited the best current–potential characteristics among the tested photocathodes, which demonstrates a power-saved efficiency of 2.63%. However, repeated linear sweep voltammetry resulted in degradation of performance. In this regard, we focused on the PEC durability issues through in-depth chemical characterization that revealed the degradation was attributed to atomic redistribution of elements constituting the photocathode, namely, in-diffusion of Pt catalysts, out-diffusion of elements from the CI...

Herein, the dynamics of oxidative etching of Ag nanoparticles in an ionic liquid is monitored in situ via graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. The results reveal that hollow nanosphere formation occurs via a stepwise process involving shell formation and hollowing of the nanoparticle. In addition, we describe the different etching kinetics in each step.

We report synergistically enhanced thermoelectric properties through the independently controlled charge and thermal transport properties in a TiO2–reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite. By the consolidation of TiO2–RGO hybrid powder using spark plasma sintering, we prepared an interface-controlled TiO2–RGO nanocomposite where its grain boundaries are covered with the RGO network. Both the enhancement in electrical conductivity and the reduction in thermal conductivity were simultaneously achieved thanks to the beneficial effects of the RGO network, and detailed mechanisms are discussed. This led to the gigantic increase in the ratio of electrical to thermal conductivity by six orders of magnitude and also the synergistic enhancement in the thermoelectric figure of merit by two orders. Our results present a strategy for the realization of ‘phonon-glass electron-crystals’ through interface control using graphene in graphene hybrid thermoelectric materials.

This study investigated the effects of a silk peptide fraction obtained by incubating silk proteins with Protease N and Neutrase (SP-NN) on cognitive dysfunction of Alzheimer disease model rats. In order to elucidate underlying mechanisms, the effect of SP-NN on the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA was assessed in F3.ChAT neural stem cells and Neuro2a neuroblastoma cells; active amino acid sequence was identified using HPLC-MS. The expression of ChAT mRNA in F3.ChAT cells increased by 3.79-fold of the control level by treatment with SP-NN fraction. The active peptide in SP-NN was identified as tyrosine-glycine with 238.1 of molecular weight. Male rats were orally administered with SP-NN (50 or 300mg/kg) and challenged with a cholinotoxin AF64A. As a result of brain injury and decreased brain acetylcholine level, AF64A induced astrocytic activation, resulting in impairment of learning and memory function. Treatment with SP-NN exerted recovering activities on acetylcholine depletion and brain injury, as well as cognitive deficit induced by AF64A. The results indicate that, in addition to a neuroprotective activity, the SP-NN preparation restores cognitive function of Alzheimer disease model rats by increasing the release of acetylcholine.

In colorectal carcinogenesis, the unique molecular and genetic changes that occur within cells result in specific CRC phenotypes. The involvement of the long non-coding RNA, HOTAIR, in cancer development, progression, and metastasis is well-established. Various studies have reported on the contribution of HOTAIR to cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, we selected four HOTAIR polymorphisms (rs7958904G>C, rs1899663G>T, rs4759314A>G, and rs920778T>C) to evaluate the association of each variant with CRC prevalence and prognosis. We conducted a case–control study of 850 individuals to identify the genotype frequencies of each polymorphism. The study population included 450 CRC patients and 400 control individuals that were randomly selected following a health screening. Notably, rs7958904 and rs1899663, their hetero genotype, and the dominant model were significantly different when compared to the healthy control group (rs7958904; AOR = 1.392, 95% CI = 1.052–1.843, P = 0.021). To evaluate the effect of HOTAIR polymorphisms on the survival rate, we analyzed patient mortality and relapse occurrence within 3 and 5 years with Cox-regression analysis. The rs7958904 CC polymorphism mortality rate was significantly higher than the GG polymorphism mortality rate (adjusted HR = 2.995, 95% CI = 1.189–7.542, P = 0.021). In addition, the rs920778 CC genotype was significantly different than the TT genotype (adjusted HR = 3.639, 95% CI = 1.435–9.230, P = 0.007). In addition, this study confirmed that genetic variants of HOTAIR alter the mRNA expression level (P < 0.01). We suggest that HOTAIR rs7958904G>C which is associated with CRC prevalence and mortality is a potential biomarker for CRC. The association between HOTAIR gene polymorphisms and CRC prevalence were reported for the first time.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancers, as evidenced by the >1.2 million patient diagnoses and 600,000 mortalities globally each year. Recently, the microRNA (miR/miRNA)-34 miRNA precursor family was revealed to participate in the tumor protein (TP)-53 pathway, which is frequently involved in CRC. Furthermore, the expression of miR-34 is reportedly regulated by DNA methylation. Accordingly, the present study investigated the correlation between the methylation status of miR-34 miRNAs and miR-34 expression in paired CRC tumor and normal tissues. The methylation status of miR-34a and miR-34b/c was determined using the MethyLight assay, and the expression of miR-34a and miR-34b/c in the same paired tissues was analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed significantly elevated miR-34a (P=0.012) and miR-34b/c (P

To investigate the clinical features of coinfection due toWe reviewed 4,465 patients with influenza who visited a tertiary care hospital emergency department in Seoul (Korea) from 2010 through 2016, and underwent immunoglobulin M (IgM) serology or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) forOf 244 influenza pneumonia patients, 41 (16.8%) had

We report on the fabrication of a siloxane-encapsulated quantum dot (QD) film (QD-silox film), which exhibits stable emission intensity for over 1 month even at elevated temperature and humidity. QD-silox films are solidified via free radical addition reaction between oligosiloxane resin and ligand molecules on QDs. We prepare the QD-oligosiloxane resin by sol-gel condensation reaction of silane precursors with QDs blended in the precursor solution, forgoing ligand-exchange of QDs. The resulting QD-oligosiloxane resin remains optically clear after 40 days of storage, in contrast to other QD-containing resins which turn turbid and ultimately form sediments. QDs also disperse uniformly in the QD-silox film, whose photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) remains nearly unaltered under harsh conditions; for example, 85 °C/5% relative humidity (RH), 85 °C/85% RH, strongly acidic, and strongly basic environments for 40 days. The QD-silox film appears to remain equally emissive even after being immersed into boiling water (100 °C). Interestingly, the PL QY of the QD-silox film noticeably increases when the film is exposed to a moist environment, which opens a new, facile avenue to curing dimmed QD-containing films. Given its excellent stability, we envision that the QD-silox film is best suited in display applications, particularly as a PL-type down-conversion layer.

Diffuse pollution management in Korea initiated by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) resulted to the construction of pilot facilities termed Best Management Practices (BMPs). Twelve BMPs installed for the diffuse pollution management in the Kyung-An Stream were monitored since 2006. Data on the mass loading, removal efficiency, maintenance activities, etc. were gathered and utilized to conduct the evaluation of long-term performance of BMPs. The financial data such as actual construction, design and maintenance cost were also collected to evaluate the lifecycle cost (LCC) of BMPs. In this study, most of the maintenance activity was focused in the aesthetic maintenance that resulted to the annual maintenance cost of the four BMP types was closely similar ranging from 8,483 $/yr for retention pond to 8,888 $/yr infiltration system. The highest LCC were observed in constructed wetland ($418,324) while vegetated system had the lowest LCC ($210,418). LCC of BMPs was not so high as compared with the conventional treatment facility and sewage treatment plant. On the other hand, the relationship of removal efficiency on unit cost for TSS and TN was significant. This study will be used to design the cost effective BMP for diffuse pollution management and become models for LCC analysis.

4H- and 6H-SiC grown by physical vapor transport method were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From the TEM diffraction patterns observed along the [11-20] zone axis, 4H- and 6H-SiC were identified due to their additional diffraction spots, indicating atomic stacking sequences. However, identification was not possible in the [10-10] zone axis due to the absence of additional diffraction spots. Basal plane dislocations (BPDs) were investigated in the TEM specimen prepared along the [10-10] zone axis using the two-beam technique. BPDs were two Shockley partial dislocations with a stacking fault (SF) between them. Shockley partial BPDs arrayed along the [0001] growth direction were observed in the investigated 4H-SiC. This arrayed configuration of Shockley partial BPDs cannot be recognized from the plan view TEM with the [0001] zone axis. The evaluated distances between the two Shockley partial dislocations for the investigated samples were similar to the equilibrium distance, with values of several hundreds of nanometers or even values as large as over a few micrometers.

Electrically insulating graphene oxide with various oxygen-functional groups is a novel material as an active layer in resistive switching memories via reduction process. Although many research groups have reported on graphene oxide-based resistive switching memories, revealing the origin of conducting path in a graphene oxide active layer remains a critical challenge. Here nanoscale conductive graphitic channels within graphene oxide films are reported using a low-voltage spherical-aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy. Simultaneously, these channels with reduced graphene oxide nanosheets induced by the detachment of oxygen groups are verified by Raman intensity ratio map and conductive atomic force microscopy. It is also clearly revealed that Al metallic protrusions, which are generated in the bottom interface layer, assist the local formation of conductive graphitic channels directly onto graphene oxide films by generating a local strong electric field. This work provides essential information for future carbon-based nanoelectronic devices.

Formation of stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is critical to outstanding performance of energy storage devices, because it acts as a passive layer that allows facile transport of ions but forbids electron transport between the electrolyte and electrode. Although much study has been devoted to investigate the morphology and structure of SEI layer using a myriad of analytical devices on past decades, the direct observation of SEI layer on a real time scale has remained as a formidable challenge. In addition, it has been difficult to observe both the decomposition of electrolytes and formation process of stable SEI layer at nanometer scale. Here we utilize in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using graphene liquid cell (GLC) to realize the observation of stable SEI layer formation in a sequential time scale. Upon e− beam irradiation, Li salts in the electrolytes react with reduced electrolytes and form gel-like agglomerates, which are deposited on the surface of the active material as a passivation layer and later stabilized to become more uniform in overall thickness. Additionally, growth dynamics of stable SEI layer were suggested, where the deposition of decomposed electrolytes eventually result in relatively uniform SEI layer. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to observe not only the formation of non-crystalline SEI layer but also the movement of decomposed electrolytes onto the surface of active materials which account for broader understanding of SEI layer, and has the potential to detect important interfacial phenomena in electrochemical devices that were overlooked so far.

Native oxide removal prior to poly-Si contact and epitaxial growth of Si is the most critical technology to ensure process and device performances of poly-Si plugs and selective epitaxial growth (SEG) layers for DRAM, flash memory, and logic device. Recently, dry cleaning process for interfacial oxide removal has attracted a world-wide attention due to its superior passivation properties to conventional wet cleaning processes. In this study, we investigated the surface states of Si substrate during and after dry cleaning process, and the role of atomic elements including fluorine and hydrogen on the properties of subsequent deposited silicon layer using SIMS, XPS, and TEM analysis. The controlling of residual fluorine on the Si surface after dry cleaning is a key factor for clean interface. The mechanism of native oxide re-growth caused by residual fluorine after dry cleaning is proposed based on analytical results.

Hybrid strategy of ZnO with carbon nanotube (CNT) has been attempted, and synergistic effects have been demonstrated in ZnO-CNT hybrid nanostructures owing to the advantageous effects of interface modification on the charge transport process. Here, we report the effects of interface control using multiwall CNTs (MWCNTs) on the charge transport properties in Al-doped ZnO (AZO) nanocomposite. Although the AZO-MWCNT nanocomposite is composed of numerous nanograins, it shows single crystalline charge transport behavior due to significantly weakened grain-boundary scattering at room temperature. The dominant charge transport mechanism is converted from lattice vibration scattering to grain-boundary scattering at 873 K due to the variation in the charge distribution at the grain boundary. The results demonstrate that interface control using carbon nanomaterials has a significant effect on the charge transport behavior in AZO nanocomposite.

The formation and phase evolution of Cu-S based compounds in kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) absorbing thin films is a critical factor affecting the performance of these materials in thin film solar cells (TFSCs). However, to the best of our knowledge, few studies have investigated the segregation of Cu-S based compounds in kesterite thin films during the sulfurization process. In this study, stacked Cu/SnS2/ZnS precursor thin films were annealed to systematically study the segregation and phase evolution of Cu-S based compounds in kesterite thin films subjected to functional sulfurization times at 550°C. The stacked precursor thin films appeared to be fully transformed to the pure kesterite phase when the sulfurization times are over 30 min. when analyzed using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. However, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization revealed that Cu-S based compounds segregated in the kesterite CZTS thin films annealed for 120 min. at 550°C. Based on the experimental results obtained for functional sulfurization times, a mechanism for Cu-S based compounds segregation and the phase evolution process is proposed.

To extend the availability of nanostructure-based optoelectronic applications, vertically elongated nanorods with precisely controlled morphology are required. For group III nitrides, pulsed-mode growth has recently been reported as an effective method for growing nanorod arrays with geometric precision. Here, we demonstrated the growth of arrays of highly elongated nanorods on Si substrates by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition using a pulsed-mode approach. Unlike the thick and high (or middle)-quality GaN templates normally used, nanorod growth was performed on an ultrathin and low-quality AlN/Si platform. Using kinetically controlled growth conditions and a patterning process, exceptionally long GaN nanorods were achieved with high geometric precision. The grown nanorods showed considerably improved optical and structural properties while remaining in uniform arrays. This approach can be used with a variety of materials to obtain nanorods with high quality, high uniformity, and high aspect ratio, and it can also serve as an effective fabrication method for InAlGaN-alloyed core/shell nanostructures for optoelectronic nanodevices with ultrahigh efficiency.

Earth abundant copper–zinc–tin chalcogenide (CZTSSe) is an emerging material for the development of low cost and sustainable thin film solar cells (TFSCs). A low cost, green, and up-scalable approach to the fabrication of TFSCs through a sputtering process is the main challenge to achieve high efficiency for Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells for industrialization. Based on a closed isothermal chamber annealing system, we could precisely calculate and control the chalcogenide partial vapour pressure during the annealing process. We designed, developed, and optimized an environmentally friendly strategy to synthesise a high quality CZTSSe absorber thin film and to fabricate a solar cell without using toxic H2Se and H2S gases as the Se and S sources or any other volatile compounds (SnS and Sn), and a chalcogenide diffusion barrier layer. We fabricated a CZTSSe TFSC with 9.24% efficiency, which is the highest performance for sputtering processed CZTSSe TFSC prepared without using toxic gases and additional processes. Based on this green strategy, we also fabricated the integrated submodule using CZTSSe absorber layers with efficiencies as high as η = 2.76% with eight interconnected cells (active area of 22.4 cm2). Our studies on this green synthesis strategy for CZTSSe solar cells could introduce a possible pathway to green fabrication for the low cost and highly efficient TFSC industrialization field.

Multicomponent amorphous InGaZnO thin films with several metal cations have been synthesized with flexible chemical composition control based on a sol–gel process, and a combinatorial approach through a sol–gel process enables us to perform a systematic survey to fluently find the best film properties. Contrary to amorphous films, crystalline InGaO3(ZnO)m requires a refined chemical composition ratio among metal cations. These ratios are expected to affect the growth evolution and thermoelectric properties of two-dimensional InGaO3(ZnO)m superlattice structures with various compositional combinations. Here, we explore a combinatorial approach to the ratio of metal cations using various mole fractions of metal precursors in InGaZnO sol for amorphous InGaZnO films fabricated on an epitaxial ZnO buffer layer, and then, they were crystallized with various chemical compositions. The crystallized InGaO3(ZnO)m films can be classified as strong single-phase InGaO3(ZnO)m, double-phase InGaO3(ZnO)m/InGaO3(ZnO)m+1, and weak single-phase InGaO3(ZnO)m with excess metal ions. Among them, the strong single-phase InGaO3(ZnO)m films with superlattice structures showed superior thermoelectric power factors. The detailed microstructural growth evolution of single- and double-phase InGaO3(ZnO)m films was investigated using transmission electron microscopy.

A recent study of the ischemic stroke described the roles played by miRNAs in the downregulation of specific cell-cycle gene expression and it is thought to require the development of biomarkers for the prognostic of ischemic stroke. Here, we hypothesized that four miRNA polymorphisms (miR-10a, miR-27a, miR-34b/c, and miR-300) may affect stroke susceptibility and mortality. Blood samples were collected from 530 patients and 403 controls. Genetic polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and real-time PCR. We found that the miR-300 rs12894467 TC genotype and the dominant model (AOR: 2.069, p-value: 0.017, AOR: 1.931, p-value: 0.027) were significantly associated with an increased risk for the ischemic stroke subtype. In Cox proportional hazard regression models, the miR-10a rs3809783 A&gt, T and miR-34b/c rs4938723 T&gt, C polymorphisms were associated with the mortality rates among ischemic stroke patients. We found that a miR-300 polymorphism was associated with increased ischemic stroke susceptibility among the Korean population. Additionally, polymorphisms in miR-10a and miR-34b/c were associated with the increased or decreased mortality of ischemic stroke patients. This study marks the first report of an association between ischemic stroke and miRNA polymorphisms (miR-10aA&gt, T, miR-27aT&gt, C, miR-34b/cT&gt, C, and miR-300T&gt, C) in the Korean population.

The age and growth of southern boarfish (Pentaceros richardsoni) was determined from samples collected by deep-sea trawlers over the Lord Howe Rise region in the Tasman Sea and Walters Shoal region in the south-west Indian Ocean. The number of growth (opaque) zones counted in whole otoliths and in thick sections (450 μm) of otoliths were lower than the counts of opaque zones in thin-sections (300 μm) of otoliths. Visual analyses and modelling of the trends in marginal increments on thin-sections of otoliths show that opaque zones are formed annually. The maximum ages determined for female and male P. richardsoni of 41 and 60 years respectively, greatly exceed the estimate of 14 years previously determined for this species based on counts of opaque zones in whole otoliths and the 2–8 years for its congener Pentaceros wheeleri from the North Pacific Ocean (NPO). The high maximum age for P. richardsoni and corresponding low natural mortality rates parallel those of Pentacerotids in coastal waters of southern Australia. Trends in the growth of P. richardsoni from the Tasman Sea demonstrate that this species exhibits rapid growth in the first 4–5 years of life with little or no subsequent growth throughout the remainder of their protracted life, which is analogous to other Pentacerotids. The truncation of the lengths and ages of P. richardsoni from the Walters Shoal suggests that the population of this species in these waters has experienced greater fishing mortality than the populations over the Lord Howe Rise region in the Tasman Sea, which is also confirmed by the far higher total mortality estimates in the former region. These findings for P. richardsoni, and the knowledge that P. wheeleri populations in the NPO have still not recovered from sustained, high fishing mortalities in the late 1960s to mid-1970s should inform the management strategies for P. richardsoni in the Southern Hemisphere.

Obesity is associated with excess body fat accumulation that can cause hyperglycemia and reduce skeletal muscle function and strength, which characterize the development of sarcopenic obesity. In this study, we aimed to determine the mechanism whereby acid-hydrolyzed silk peptide (SP) prevents high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and whether it regulates glucose uptake and muscle differentiation using in vivo and in vitro approaches. Our findings demonstrate that SP inhibits body mass gain and the expression of adipogenic transcription factors in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). SP also had an anti-diabetic effect in VAT and skeletal muscle because it upregulated glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) expression. Furthermore, SP reduced ubiquitin proteasome and promoted myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD)/myogenic factor 4 (myogenin) expression, implying that it may have potential for the treatment of obesity-induced hyperglycemia and obesity-associated sarcopenia.

Silk fibroin hydrolysates have been reported to reduce hyperglycemia, but the mechanism has not been determined in Asian type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We hypothesized that the consumption of acid hydrolyzed silk peptides (SPs) alleviates hyperglycemia by improving insulin sensitivity and subsequently normalizing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in T2DM. We investigated this hypothesis in a partial pancreatectomized (Px) rat model. Px rats was assigned randomly to the following six groups and fed assigned diet for 8 weeks: the Px-CON (0.5 g/kg/day dextrin), the SP-L (0.05 g/kg/day), the SP-M (0.1 g/kg/day), the SP-H (0.5 g/kg/day), the positive-CON (30 mg/kg/day metformin), or the normal-CON (sham-operated rats, 0.5 g/kg/day dextrin). SPs contained high levels of glycine, alanine, and serine. We found SPs dose-dependently increased food efficiency and body weight gain in Px rats. Animals in the Px-control group rats exhibited lower glucose metabolism, as evidenced by impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion coupled with impaired insulin sensitivity, and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and lean body mass (LBM), compared to normal-CON. SPs and metformin similarly partially protected against Px-induced BMD loss in the lumbar spine and femur. Px-induced decreases in LBM were dose-dependently prevented by SPs, and muscle forces in the SP-M and SP-H groups were maintained at the normal-CON level. Glucose tolerance was dose-dependently improved by SPs as determined by oral glucose tolerance and oral maltose tolerance tests, and glucose tolerances were similar in the SP-H and positive-CON groups. Insulin tolerance, an index of insulin sensitivity, was dose-dependently enhanced by SPs, and the SP-H group exhibited better insulin tolerance than the positive-CON group as determined by intraperitoneal insulin sensitivity testing. Insulin secretory capacity assessed using a hyperglycemic clamp improved in the following order: Px-control &lt, SA-L &lt, SA-M &lt, positive-control &lt, SA-H &lt, normal-control. SP-M prevented gut microbiota dysbiosis. In conclusion, SPs administered at 0.1&ndash, 0.5 g/kg/day improved glucose regulation by potentiating both insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in non-obese T2DM rats.

Obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases, and is caused when the energy intake is greater than the energy expenditure. We aimed to determine the mechanism whereby acid-hydrolyzed silk peptide (SP) prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity, and whether it induces browning and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in white adipose tissue (WAT), using in vivo and ex vivo approaches. We determined the effects of dietary SP in high-fat diet-fed obese mice. The expression of adipose tissue-specific genes was quantified by western blotting, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence analysis. We also investigated whether SP directly induces browning in primarily subcutaneous WAT-derived adipocytes. Our findings demonstrate that SP has a browning effect in WAT by upregulating AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. SP also suppresses adipogenesis and promotes FAO, implying that it may have potential as an anti-obesity drug.

Biopanning refers to the processes of screening peptides with a high affinity to a target material. Microfluidic biopanning has advantages compared to conventional biopanning which requires large amounts of the target material and involves inefficient multiple pipetting steps to remove nonspecific or low-affinity peptides. Here, we fabricate a microfluidic biopanning system to identify a new gold-binding peptide (GBP). A polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device is fabricated and bonded to a glass slide with a gold pattern that is deposited by electron-beam evaporation. The microfluidic biopanning system can provide high adjustability in the washing step during the biopanning process because the liquid flow rate and the resulting shear stress can be precisely controlled. The surface plasmon resonance analysis shows that the binding affinity of the identified GBP is comparable to previously reported GBPs. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulations are performed to understand its binding affinity against the gold surface in detail. Theoretical calculations suggest that the association and dissociation rates of the GBPs depend on their sequence-dependent conformations and interactions with the gold surface. These findings provide insight into designing efficient biopanning tools and peptides with a high affinity for various target materials.

Microstructural evolution and formation mechanism of reaction layer for 22MnB5 steel hot-dipped in Al&ndash, 10Si (in wt %) alloy was investigated. The microstructural identification of the reaction layer was characterized via transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. In addition, the formation mechanisms of the phases were discussed with vertical section (isopleth) of the (Al&ndash, Si&ndash, Fe) ternary system. The solidified Al&ndash, Si coating layer consisted of three phases of Al, Si, and &tau, 5 (Al8Fe2Si). The reaction layer on the Al&ndash, Si coating layer side is a fine &tau, 5 phase (Al8Fe2Si) of 5 &mu, m thickness. The layer on the steel side consisted of an &eta, phase (Fe2Al5) of thickness of 500 nm or less. &tau, 1 (Al2Fe3Si3, triclinic) phase of 200-nm-thickness was formed in the &eta, phase, and &kappa, phase (Fe3AlC) of 40&ndash, 50 nm thickness was formed between &eta, phase and steel. The &tau, 5 phase was formed by isothermal solidification at 690 &deg, C in the liquid Al&ndash, 10 wt % Si when 3.73&ndash, 29.0 wt % of Fe was dissolved from the boron steel into the Al&ndash, Si liquid bath. It was considered that the &eta, phase was formed by the diffusion reaction of Al, Si, and Fe between &tau, 5 and ferrite steel. &kappa, (Fe3AlC) phase was formed by the reaction of the carbon, which is barely employed in &eta, and &tau, phases, and diffused Al.

This study investigated the nucleation and growth mechanism of reaction layers and phases of hot-dipped boron steel in pure Al at 690 &deg, C for 0&ndash, 120 s. In the case of a dipping time of 30 s, reaction nuclei of width 10&ndash, 15 &mu, m and height 10 &mu, m were formed on the steel surface in the flow direction of the liquid Al. This reaction layer was formed as a mixture of &theta, (Fe4Al13) phase of several nm to 2 &mu, m, &theta, and &eta, (Fe2Al5) of several nm, a columnar &eta, region, and a &beta, (FeAl) region of 500 nm thickness at the steel interface. At the grain boundaries of ferrite, in contact with the &eta, phase, &kappa, (Fe3AlC) was formed. Using the calculated Fe-Al phase diagram, it was determined that when Fe was dissolved in liquid Al from the steel above 2.5 at% (0.6 wt%), the &theta, phase was formed. Although most of the &theta, phases continuously grew toward the liquid phase, the &theta, phase in contact with the steel was transformed into the &eta, phase with minimal differences in composition due to the inter-diffusion of Al and Fe. It was therefore concluded that the &eta, phase formed at the interface became a growth nucleus and grew in a columnar form toward the steel.

Silk peptide, the hydrolysate of silk protein derived from cocoons, has been employed as a biomedical material and is believed to be safe for human use. Silk peptide display various bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, immune-regulatory, anti-tumor, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. Although earlier investigations demonstrated that silk peptide stimulates macrophages and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, its effect on natural killer (NK) cell function has not yet been explored. In this study, we initially confirmed that silk peptide enhances NK cell activity in vitro and ex vivo. To assess the modulatory activity of silk peptide on NK cells, mice were fed various amounts of a silk peptide-supplemented diet for 2 months and the effects on immune stimulation, including NK cell activation, were evaluated. Oral administration of silk peptide significantly enhanced the proliferation of mitogen- or IL-2-stimulated splenocytes. In addition, oral silk peptide treatment enhanced the frequency and degree of maturation of NK cells in splenocytes. The same treatment also significantly enhanced the target cell cytolytic activity of NK cells, which was determined by cell surface CD107a expression and intracellular interferon-γ expression. Finally, oral administration of silk peptide stimulated T helper 1-type cytokine expression from splenic lymphocytes. Collectively, our results suggest that silk peptide potentiates NK cell activity in vivo and could be used as a compound for immune-modulating anti-tumor treatment.

Highly active metal nanoparticles are desired to serve in high-temperature electrocatalysis, for example, in solid oxide electrochemical cells. Unfortunately, the low thermal stability of nanosized particles and the sophisticated interface requirement for electrode structures to support concurrent ionic and electronic transport make it hard to identify the exact catalytic role of nanoparticles embedded within complex electrode architectures. Here we present an accurate analysis of the reactivity of oxide electrodes boosted by metal nanoparticles, where all particles participate in the reaction. Monodisperse particles (Pt, Pd, Au and Co), 10 nm in size and stable at high temperature (more than 600 °C), are uniformly distributed onto mixed-conducting oxide electrodes as a model electrochemical cell via self-assembled nanopatterning. We identify how the metal catalysts activate hydrogen electrooxidation on the ceria-based electrode surface and quantify how rapidly the reaction rate increases with proper choice of metal. These results suggest an ideal electrode design for high-temperature electrochemical applications. The impact of metal nanoparticles on the reactivity of mixed-conducting oxide fuel cell electrodes is identified and quantified.

OBJECTIVES The diagnosis and management of children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) admitted in the emergency department (ED) are challenging. The present study aimed at describing the initial characteristics of pediatric patients with HLH upon admission in the ED. Moreover, the clinical severity of the condition was assessed. METHODS We performed a retrospective study of patients who visited the pediatric ED and were newly diagnosed with HLH during hospitalization between February 2012 and January 2017. The patients were classified in the clinically unstable group if at least 1 of the following conditions was observed upon admission in the ED: hypoxia requiring oxygen supplementation, hypotension requiring inotropic support, coagulopathy with prothrombin time (international normalized ratio, ≥1.5), and seizures or altered consciousness. RESULTS We enrolled 31 pediatric patients with HLH, with a median age of 6.53 years (interquartile range, 1.35-13.24 years). Abdominal discomfort along with fever (74.2%) was the most common presenting symptom in patients admitted in the ED. Based on the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria, fever (96.8%), hyperferritinemia (96.8%), splenomegaly (74.2%), hypertriglyceridemia and/or hypofibrinogenemia (67.7%), and bicytopenia (41.9%) were observed in the patients. However, only 8 patients (25.8%) met the criteria. Nineteen patients (61.3%) were included in the clinically unstable group. This group had lower albumin (2.3 vs 3.3 g/dL, P = 0.002) and fibrinogen levels and higher ferritin level and neutrophil count than the clinically stable group. Meanwhile, the number of clinical findings that met the diagnostic criteria was not different between the 2 groups. Lower albumin level was a significant risk factor in the clinically unstable group (odds ratio, 0.040; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients with HLH often have clinically unstable conditions upon admission in the ED. However, only few patients meet the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria. Lower albumin level may be useful in assessing clinically unstable patients and preparing for possible deterioration.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in children who presented to the emergency department with acute nontraumatic visual disturbance and to study related clinical factors for discovering positive lesions on head MRI.We performed a retrospective study of 1-month to 15-year-old children who underwent head MRI as an evaluation for acute nontraumatic visual disturbance as a chief complaint in our pediatric emergency department between March 2010 and March 2015. The symptoms of visual disturbance were blurred vision, diplopia, loss of vision, and visual hallucination. Head MRI findings were considered positive when lesions could explain the symptoms.We identified 39 patients (25 with blurred vision, 9 with diplopia, 3 with loss of vision, and 2 with visual hallucination) with a mean age of 8.35 ± 4.06 years. Positive head MRI findings were identified in 13 patients (33.3%). Brain tumors were most common (53.8%), followed by optic nerve inflammations (23.1%), congenital brain lesions (15.4%), and hypertensive encephalopathy (7.7%). Compared with the negative head MRI group, the positive head MRI group showed significantly less transient visual disturbance (duration1 hour to complete recovery) (P = 0.001), more limited eye movement (P = 0.003), and more pupillary abnormalities (P = 0.030).We suggest performing urgent head MRI in children with acute nontraumatic visual disturbance if the symptoms last longer than 1 hour without complete recovery and are accompanied by limited eye movement or pupillary abnormality.

To assess the diagnostic performance of CT for pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis in various clinical settings and the proportion of acute appendicitis on final diagnosis among equivocal CT findings. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched until October 21, 2017, for studies investigating diagnostic performance of CT for acute appendicitis in pediatric patients confirmed by histopathologic findings and/or clinical follow-up. Pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity were calculated using a hierarchical logistic regression modeling. The proportion of true appendicitis among patients with inconclusive CT results was obtained using fixed and random effects meta-analyses. Twenty-two articles with 3396 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 95% (95% CI, 93−97%) and 94% (95% CI, 90−96%), respectively, and the area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.96−0.99). Subgroup analyses revealed a comparable diagnostic performance in the low-dose CT group (sensitivity, 97%; specificity, 96%) and the unenhanced group (sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 95%). Other subgroups (publication year, study design, enrolled population, true appendicitis proportion, CT channel number, and slice thickness) also showed good diagnostic performance. Six studies reporting the true appendicitis proportion among patients with equivocal CT findings had pooled proportion of 17% (95% CI, 9−29%). CT showed good performance for suspected appendicitis in pediatric patients under various clinical settings, including in cases with dose reduction or absence of IV contrast. The prevalence of true appendicitis among patients with equivocal appendicitis results on CTs was not low; therefore, clinical attention should not be disregarded in this population.

The development of high efficiency Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film solar cells depends on the synthesis of phase pure CZTS films. Due to the narrow phase window, it is difficult to prepare CZTS films with a pure kesterite phase (i.e., a film that lacks traces of detrimental secondary phases). For this, phase evolution of kesterite CZTS in films must be systematically studied. In the present study detailed phase evolution of kesterite CZTS via the sulfurization of stacked Cu/SnS2/ZnS precursor was examined. The phase evolution of kesterite CZTS was analyzed during the temperature-dependent sulfurization of stacked precursors. In addition to traditional X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization was used to study the phase evolution and trace locations of secondary phases in the sulfurized films. Furthermore, based on the experimental evidences the reaction pathways for the formation of CZTS kesterite phase and plausible phase evolution mechanism are proposed.

The appearance of phase segregations in the kesterite Cu 2 ZnSn(S x ,S 1− x ) 4 (CZTSSe) absorber layer and formation of the interfacial Mo(S,Se) 2 layer during the annealing process is a challenge and limitation for the inderstrization of highly efficiency and low-cost thin film solar cells (TFSCs). These two factors are effectively controlled by sulfurization temperature. In this study, kesterite CZTSSe thin films were successfully prepared via the sulfurization of co-evaporated Cu–Zn–Sn–Se precursor, which was deposited on Mo-coated glass substrates at sulfurization temperatures ranging from 520 °C to 580 °C. The structure and phase of the sulfurized CZTSSe films were characterized by conventional XRD and Raman analyses. The thickness of the Mo(S,Se) 2 layer was estimated based on cross-sectional FE-SEM images. Advanced characterizations, such as STEM images and STEM EDS analyses of the sulfurized CZTSSe films were performed to detect the sulfurization temperature dependent phase segregation and localized fluctuations in the elemental composition of the sulfurized CZTSSe films. The formation of secondary phases was clearly evident at the bottom region in the CZTSSe absorber thin films prepared over sulfurization temperature of 540 °C. The performances of the devices were strongly related to the sulfurization temperature, thickness of the interfacial Mo(S,Se) 2 layer and proportion of secondary phases in the kesterite CZTSSe absorber layers. The highest power conversion efficiency was 5.52% and was achieved by the CZTSSe absorber layer prepared at 540 °C ( V oc :0.575 V, J sc :18.14 mA/cm 2 and FF : 52.94%).

Determining the presence of conducting filaments in resistive random access memory with nanoscale thin films is vital to unraveling resistive switching mechanisms. Bistable resistive switching within graphene-oxide (GO)-based resistive memory devices, recently developed by many research groups, has been generally explained by the formation and rupture of conducting filaments induced by the diffusion of metal or oxygen ions. Using a low-voltage spherical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we directly observe metallic nanofilaments formed at the amorphous top interface layer with the application of external voltages in an Al/GO/Al memory system. Atomic-resolution TEM images acquired at an acceleration voltage of 80 kV clearly show that the conducting nanofilaments are composed of nanosized aluminum crystalline within the amorphous top interface layer after applying a negative bias (ON state). Simultaneously, we observe the change in the crystallinity of GO films by the back-diffusion of oxygen ions. The oxygen-deficient regions are clearly confirmed by energy-filtered TEM oxygen elemental mapping. This work could provide strong evidence to confirm the resistive switching mechanism previously suggested by our group.

Novel photocatalyst based on CuO–CuCr 2 O 4 nanocomposites was synthesized for different Cr 3+ concentration by reflux condensation method, and their photocatalytic activity was evaluated by monitoring the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue dyes (MB) under UV light irradiation. Phase evolution by X-ray diffraction showed monoclinic CuO and tetragonal CuCr 2 O 4 as the components of the prepared nanocomposites. Morphological analysis by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope revealed that the incorporation of Cr 3+ in CuO lattice alters the morphology of CuO from microsphere to cluster shape. Photoluminescence spectra of CuO–CuCr 2 O 4 nanocomposites exhibited reduced PL emissions compared to pure CuO, indicating the low recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes. As expected, the CuCr 2 O 4 loaded CuO showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for MO and MB dyes, and the kinetic studies suggest that the degradation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of CuO–CuCr 2 O 4 nanocomposites can be attributed to the presence of CuCr 2 O 4 as an electron acceptor, which improves the effective charge separation in CuO.

In this paper, the localization algorithm for improving the accuracy of the positioning using the Wi-Fi fingerprint using the normal distribution probability and the built-in typed accelerometer sensor, the gyroscope sensor of smartphone in the indoor environment is proposed. The experiments for analyzing the performance of the proposed algorithm were carried out at the region of the ho rizontal and vertical 20m * 10m in the engineering school building of our university, and the performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with the fingerprint and the DR (dead reckoning) while user is moving according to the assigned region. As a result, the maximum error distance in the proposed algorithm was decreased to 2cm and 36cm compared with two algorithms, respectively. In addition to this, the maximum error distance was also less than compared with two algorithms as 16.64cm and 36.25cm, respectively. It can be seen that the fingerprint map searching time of the proposed algorithm was also reduced to 0.15 seconds compared wi th two algorithms.

The risk factors and clinical implications of stress hyperglycemia in children with febrile seizure remain uncertain. Among 479 children with febrile seizure, the prevalence of the stress hyperglycemia (blood glucose concentration ≥ 150 mg/dL) was 10.0%. Stress hyperglycemia group included larger proportion of first-time febrile seizure, prolonged febrile seizure, and smaller proportion of short febrile seizure in comparison with the non–stress hyperglycemia group. Stress hyperglycemia group demonstrated a lower pH and higher lactate levels than the non–stress hyperglycemia group. Multivariate analysis revealed that first-time febrile seizure (aOR = 3.741, P = .004) and prolonged febrile seizure (aOR = 12.855, P < .001) were significant risk factors for stress hyperglycemia. The rate of early febrile seizure recurrence in the emergency department was not different between the groups. These findings suggest that children experiencing first-time or prolonged febrile seizure are prone to stress hyperglycemia, and this can be related to febrile seizure severity. However, stress hyperglycemia is not predictive of early febrile seizure recurrence in the emergency department.

The production of the reactive oxidant (i.e., hydroxyl radical) by the Fenton-like reaction (Fe(III)/H 2 O 2 ) was greatly improved by the addition of carbon materials such as powdered activated carbon (PAC) and carbon nanotubes (CNT). The presence of carbon materials enhanced the oxidative conversion of methanol into formaldehyde by the Fe(III)/H 2 O 2 system. CNT exhibited a slightly higher activity than PAC. In the presence of the carbon materials, the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) was accelerated while the decomposition rate of H 2 O 2 increased, which appears to be responsible for the enhanced oxidant production. The reducing power of carbon materials was also shown by the reductive conversion of polyoxomolybdate. Increasing the addition of carbon materials exhibited saturated (or slightly decreased) oxidant yields, while decreasing the H 2 O 2 utilization efficiency. The enhanced oxidant production by carbon materials was more pronounced in the absence of dissolved oxygen, which was explained by the reactions of organo-radicals produced by methanol oxidation.