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Due to increases in truck traffic, truck traffic safety has become an unavoidable societal issue in Korea. Truck traffic accidents were responsible for 24% of all traffic deaths in 2019, and the fatality rate was significantly higher than that of other forms of traffic. This study analyzes not only the driver and environmental factors, but also the traffic condition factors which are considered to contribute to the severity of truck traffic accidents, and presents practical truck safety solutions based on the findings. This study examines the fatal and serious injury truck traffic accidents in Incheon, which has large logistics facilities and the highest fatality rate (3.3) in Korea’s capital area. According to the regression analysis results, ‘Nighttime’, ‘Vehicle-single’, ‘Vehicle to Pedestrian’, ‘Lane violation’, and ‘Signal violation’ contribute to the severity of truck traffic accidents. Furthermore, truck traffic accidents in the logistics influencing area are more likely to be serious than in the non-influencing area. In terms of the traffic condition factors, the number of lanes, the maximum speed, and the number of road property-changing nodes were significant. The results of this study will provide useful data for establishing traffic safety policies in urban areas.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (SC), Lycium chinense Mill (LC) and Eucommia ulmoides Oliv (EU) are representative tonic herbal medicines that help to strengthen body muscles and bones making them stronger according to the Donguibogam, a tradition medical book of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. Aim of the study To evaluate effects of an herbal formula consisting of SC, LC and EU on muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes and in a rat model of immobilization-induced muscle atrophy. Materials and methods Muscle atrophy was developed by cast immobilization of unilateral hindlimb on rats for 3 weeks. Treatments were administered orally 14 times over 3 weeks. After treatments, we compared the change of body weight, muscle weight, grip strength, muscle fiber size, muscle fiber type shift by Grip strength meter, H&E stain and ATPase stain. And western blot was used for evaluating molecular mechanism in muscle atrophy on C2C12 cells. Results When taken individually, SC was the most effective of the three in inhibiting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced degeneration of C2C12 myogenesis. The formulation with a mass ratio of 2:1:1 SC: LC: EU (SSLE) was more effective against TNF-α-induced muscle atrophy than was a 1:1:1 SC: LC: EU (SLE) formula or any of the single herbal extracts. In a rat model of disuse muscle atrophy, the SSLE formula significantly inhibited reductions in muscle weight, grip strength and muscle fiber size induced by hindlimb immobilization, in a dose-dependent manner. The formula also inhibited immobilization-induced shifting of the muscle fiber type in soleus muscle. Treatment with SSLE inhibited TNF-α-induced expression of the atrogenes atrogin-1 and muscle RING-finger protein 1 in C2C12 cells. The SSLE formula also increased myoblast differentiation markers (myoD and myogenin) and activation of the Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Conclusion These findings suggest that the SSLE formula prevents muscle atrophy through inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system as well as upregulation of myoblast differentiation and muscle protein synthesis in C2C12 cells. Taken together, we conclude that the SSLE formula is invaluable for the development of therapeutic medicines to prevent disuse muscle atrophy and its accompanying muscle weakness.

Flexible transparent conductive films (TCFs) of TiO2 nanosheet (TiO2 NS) and silver nanowire (Ag NW) network hybrid were prepared through a simple and scalable solution-based process. The as-formed TiO2 NS–Ag NW hybrid TCF shows a high optical transmittance (TT: 97% (90.2% including plastic substrate)) and low sheet resistance (Rs: 40 Ω/sq). In addition, the TiO2 NS–Ag NW hybrid TCF exhibits a long-time chemical/aging and electromechanical stability. As for the chemical/aging stability, the hybrid TCF of Ag NW and TiO2 NS reveals a retained initial conductivity (ΔRs/Rs 4000%) or RuO2 NS–Ag NW hybrid (ΔRs/Rs > 200%). As corroborated by the density functional theory simulation, the superb chemical stability of TiO2 NS–Ag NW hybrid is attributable to the unique role of TiO2 NS as a barrier, which prevents Ag NW’s chemical corrosion via the attenuated adsorption of sulfidation molecules (H2S) on TiO2 NS. With respect to the...

Vertical MoO2/MoS2 core–shell structures were synthesized on an amorphous surface (SiO2) by chemical vapor deposition at a high heating rate using a configuration in which the vapor phase was confined. The confined reaction configuration was achieved by partially covering the MoO3-containing boat with a substrate, which allowed rapid buildup of the partially reduced MoO3–x crystals in an early stage (below 680 °C). Rapid temperature ramping to 780 °C enabled spontaneous transition of the reaction environment from sulfur-poor to sulfur-rich, which induced a sequential phase transition from MoO3–x to intermediate MoO2 and finally to MoO2/MoS2 core–shell structures. The orthorhombic crystal structure of MoO3–x contributed to the formation of vertical crystals on the amorphous substrate, whereas the nonvolatility of the subsequently formed MoO2 enabled layer-by-layer sulfurization to form MoS2 on the oxide surface with minimal resublimation loss of MoO2. By adjustment of the sulfurization temperature and time...

In pursuit of a potential low-resistive contact structure, ErSi2-x was grown on an excessively P-doped and highly strained epitaxial Si layer (Si:P with a P concentration of ∼2.8 at%), and its microstructure was investigated in comparison to that grown on a conventional Si(001) substrate. On the Si substrate, ErSi2-x grains nucleated with a local epitaxial relationship and grew to form a polycrystalline film with a preferred alignment of ErSi2-x(10 1 ¯ 0)//Si(001) in a largely strained state. However, the epitaxial relationship at the interface during the ErSi2-x nucleation stage was disrupted, and randomly oriented columnar ErSi2-x grains grew on the Si:P(001) layer. Several experiments to separate the possible strain and doping effects showed that inhibition of the epitaxial nucleation of ErSi2-x grains was induced by excessive P accumulation at the interface region rather than by the strain effect. P enrichment at the interface encouraged ErSi2-x film growth without a preferred orientation, and the intermittent P-deficient areas worsened the interface roughness by provoking the local intrusion of ErSi2-x grains toward the Si:P layer.

Using fMRI, the acupuncture studies related with modifying disease process in patients still stay in the beginning, whereas the physiological response to acupuncture has been published abundantly. In this study, we reviewed acupuncture studies performed in patient and reported the changes of brain activity using fMRI. Only randomized controlled studies were included. We systemically searched PubMed and EMBASE and extracted data by two independent researchers. We also performed an ALE-meta analysis to investigate significant brain responses of acupuncture. Fifteen studies were finally included in our review. The studies were performed in stroke, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, lumbar disc herniation, Parkinson’s disease (PD) and mild cognitive impairment. The common changes of brain activity by acupuncture were identified in the sensory system and insular cortex, whereas other brain regions showed heterogeneous activity according to each disease status. Meta-analysis indicated the different brain responses between verum and sham acupuncture were found in the frontal lobe (BA 6) in the brain disorders such as stroke and PD and the parietal lobe (BA 40), insula (BA 13), limbic lobe (BA 23) and occipital lobe (BA 18) in the pain related disease. However, the correlations between the changes of clinical symptoms and brain activities are limited. Some specific changes of brain activities induced by acupuncture can be detective through patient imaging studies. However, it was difficult to draw an obvious conclusion due to the heterogeneity of the diseases and the interventions. Further well-designed patient centered fMRI studies considering clinical points are required.

As a result of growing international trade, port-related emission is a spreading issue for urban areas located near ports, especially, hub port cities where population density is concentrated. The awareness of rapidly increasing drayage trucks moving cargo between the port and its hinterland has motivated the necessity of a detailed look at negative environmental impacts of these truck fleets on the achievement of sustainability goals. This study analyzes emission inventory from trucking activities around the Port of Incheon (POI), especially focusing on major air pollutants, and suggests ideas to support establishing new policies in port area. Data on the number of truck, the year of production, the type of fuel, etc. during 2018 were collected from Incheon Port Security and Korea Transport Safety Authority. A bottom-up methodology is applied based on guideline from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As results, the major role of drayage truck fleets to local air pollution was highlighted with the high contribution of CO and NOx emissions. Hence, this study suggested the establishment of Emission Control Area (ECA) and Affected Zone on the landside as well as implementing Integrated Information System and Truck Appointment System to reduce congestion at gate, limit the number of emissions and minimize negative impacts to local community.

The aim of this study was to identify the active compound responsible for the pharmacological activities of Manchurian spikenard (Aralia continentalis Kitag.). Interleukin (IL)-1&beta, stimulated human chondrocytes and monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritic rats were treated with the 50% ethanolic extract of spikenard or its major components, such as continentalic acid (ent-pimara-8(14),15-diene-19-oic acid) and kaurenoic acid (ent-kaura-16-en-19-oic acid). The spikenard extract significantly inhibited IL-1&beta, stimulated production of IL-6, IL-8, metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-13, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and prostaglandin(PG)E2 in a dose-dependent manner but not MMP-3 production. The extract also inhibited the IL-1&beta, induced translocation of NF-&kappa, B/p65 into the nucleus and dose-dependent phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Continentalic acid exhibited significant anti-arthritic activity corresponding exactly to that of the extract containing an equivalent amount of continentalic acid. On the other hand, kaurenoic acid exhibited a compatible activity at about a 10-times higher molar concentration than that of continentalic acid. In vitro anti-arthritic activities of the spikenard extract and continentalic acid were also confirmed in MIA-induced osteoarthritic rats. The 50% ethanolic extract of Manchurian spikenard exhibited promising anti-arthritic activities in the in vitro and in vivo osteoarthritis models, and continentalic acid, not kaurenoic acid, was most probably responsible for those activities.

Germanium telluride (GeTe), which has long been used in phase-change devices, has very unique structural characteristics. While atomic movement and related bond-order switching have been believed to determine the ferroelectric characteristics of this compound, structural changes accompanying ferroelectric switching have not been examined. In this study, using transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, we directly observed the atomic movement and the related change in the local structure of GeTe during ferroelectric switching under an applied E-field. The crystal symmetry of GeTe could be alternated between two phases (R3m (rhombohedral) and Cm (monoclinic)) by changing the compound's polarization direction, indicating that the ferroelectric switching behavior of GeTe can be controlled. This observation suggests that ferroelectric switching of GeTe may originate from the phase transition between R3m and Cm through the formation of a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Since these two phases can generate MPBs with similar energies, the rotation of lone-pair direction during the phase transition can effectively change the polarization direction. The exotic phenomenon of ferroelectric switching, which involves changes in the chemical bonds, can be predicted on the basis of the role of several dopants through DFT calculations.

Broadband detection of mid-infrared (IR) photons extends to advanced optoelectronic applications such as imaging, sensing, and telecommunications. While graphene offers an attractive platform for broadband visible/IR photodetection, previous efforts to improve its responsivity, for example, by integrating light-absorbing colloids or waveguide or antenna fabrication, were achieved at the cost of reduced photon detection bandwidth. In this work, we demonstrate room-temperature operation of a novel mid-IR photodetector based on a graphene–Bi2Se3 heterostructure showing broadband detection and high responsivity (1.97 and 8.18 A/W at mid- and near-IR, respectively), in which simultaneous improvement of the spectral range and responsivity is achieved via exploiting broadband absorption of mid-IR and IR photons in a small-band-gap Bi2Se3 topological insulator and efficient hot carrier separation and strong photogating across the Bi2Se3/graphene interface. With sufficient room for further improvement by interface...

To synthesize a thermally robust Ni1–xPtxSi film suitable for ultrashallow junctions in advanced metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, we used a continuous laser beam to carry out millisecond annealing (MSA) on a preformed Ni-rich silicide film at a local surface temperature above 1000 °C while heating the substrate to initiate a phase transition. The melting and quenching process by this unique high-temperature MSA process formed a Ni1–xPtxSi film with homogeneous Pt distribution across the entire film thickness. After additional substantial thermal treatment up to 800 °C, the noble Ni1–xPtxSi film maintained a low-resistive phase without agglomeration and even exhibited interface flattening with the underlying Si substrate.

We present a novel method for fabricating large-area field-effect transistors (FETs) based on densely packed multichannel graphene nanoribbon (GNR) arrays using advanced direct self-assembly (DSA) nanolithography. The design of our strategy focused on the efficient integration of the FET channel and using fab-compatible processes such as thermal annealing and chemical vapor deposition. We achieved linearly stacked DSA nanopattern arrays with sub-10 nm half-pitch critical dimensions (CD) by controlling the thickness of topographic Au confinement patterns. Excellent roughness values (∼10% of CD) were obtained, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating sub-10 nm GNRs into commercial semiconductor processes. Based on this facile process, FETs with such densely packed multichannel GNR arrays were successfully fabricated on 6 in. silicon wafers. With these high-quality GNR arrays, we achieved FETs showing the highest performance reported to date (an on-to-off ratio larger than 10(2)) for similar devices produced using conventional photolithography and block-copolymer lithography.

This paper is to analyze characteristics of transfer trips and to identify impacts of land use on them. Using the smart transport card data of Seoul on a weekday in April 2013, we explored general characteristics of the transfer trips such as spatial and temporal distributions, transfer types, and geographical patterns of transfer trips. Then, the multiple regression model for the transfer trips was developed, considering land use as well as socio-economic variables as explanatory ones. For the characteristics of the transfer trips, their ratio to the total trips accounts for 26.7%. Nearly 87% of the trips are one-time transferred, and 64.7% are bus-subway transfer trips. In addition, the transfer trips are more likely to appear nearby subway stations and business facilities. The regression model indicates that land use variables such as the floor areas of business facilities and department stores and mixed land use index significantly positively affect the transfer trips. Our results can be used as basic data for choosing feasible locations of multi-modal transfer centers in urban areas.

In this study, the thermal sulfidation characteristics of two amorphous nonstoichiometric Mo-oxide (MoO3−x) films were investigated that were deposited using e-beam evaporation of MoO3 and MoO2 powders. It was observed that evaporation of MoO2 produced an amorphous MoO3−x film that exhibited a greater number of low oxidation states than that obtained by MoO3 evaporation. Moreover, subsequent sulfidation allowed the formation of a continuous MoS2 film; meanwhile, the MoO3-evaporated sample transformed into a discontinuous MoS2 film. Both the initial thickness of the MoO2-evaporated film and the sulfidation temperature were varied to determine their effects on the final MoS2 film quality. The sulfidation of an approximately 1-nm-thick MoO2-evaporated film at 780 °C produced a predominantly monolayer MoS2 film. Further, an operation of the bottom-gated transistor arrays using the synthesized MoS2 film was demonstrated along with a preliminary experimental result for potential application in three-dimensional device integration.

Nowadays, maritime air pollution is regarded as a severe threat to coastal communities&rsquo, health. Therefore, many policies to reduce air pollution have been established worldwide. Moreover, there has been a shift in policy and research attention from greenhouse gases, especially CO2, to other air pollutants. To address the current local environmental challenges, this research analyzes the non-greenhouse gas emissions inventory (CO, NOx, SOx, PM, VOC, and NH3) from ships in the second biggest port in Korea, the Port of Incheon (POI). A bottom-up activity-based methodology with real-time vessel activity data produced by the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is applied to obtain reliable estimations. NOx and SOx dominated the amount of emission emitted from ships. Tankers, general cargo ships, cruise ships, and container ships were identified as the highest sources of pollution. Based on the above results, this study discusses the need for long-term policies, such as the designation of a local emission control area (ECA) and the establishment of an emission management platform to reduce ship-source emissions. Furthermore, this study elucidates that significant emissions come from the docking process, ranging from 33.9% to 42.0% depending on the type of pollutant when only the auxiliary engines were being operated. Therefore, short-term solutions like applying exhausted gas cleaning systems, using on-shore power supplies, reducing docking time, or using greener alternative fuels (e.g., liquefied natural gas or biofuels) should be applied and motivated at the POI. These timely results could be useful for air quality management decision-making processes for local port operators and public agencies.

Introduction Herbal prescriptions are frequently sought as complementary medicine treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, variability in pattern identification of Traditional Medicine has been criticised. Using patient data on clinical remission, we aimed to develop pattern identification (PI) algorithms refined by identified pattern and key symptoms which practitioners can easily differentiate. Methods Symptoms of IBD patients with remission were divided into Large intestine, Water-dampness, Respiratory, Upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and Coldness patterns. Using the term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) method, symptoms described as indications of the herbal prescriptions and 5 patterns were matched. Decision tree modeling was used for prediction of relevant patterns from symptoms. Five-fold cross validation and sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the model. Results Incomplete feeling of bowel emptying for Large intestine pattern, water dampness for Water-dampness pattern, chronic rhinitis for Respiratory pattern, gastric stuffiness for Upper GI tract pattern, and abdominal pain for Coldness pattern were selected by TF-IDF analysis. Overall accuracy of the decision tree was 64.4 %. In the treatment algorithm by the decision tree modeling, associations emerged between presence of incomplete feeling of bowel emptying and Large intestine type (100 %), chronic rhinitis and Respiratory type (100 %), water dampness symptoms and Water-dampness type (78.4 %), and gastric stuffiness and Upper GI tract type (58.3 %). Conclusions The PI algorithm we suggest can help clinicians determine patterns of IBD. Future studies with a large sample could yield an improved algorithm that predicts not only patterns but also corresponding herbal medicine prescriptions.

Objectives. Acupuncture is often used for relieving symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Our aim is to ascertain whether verum acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture in FMS. Methods. We collected RCTs to investigate the effects of verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture on pain, sleep quality, fatigue, and general status in FMS patients. The databases used for data retrieval were PubMed, Central Cochrane, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CNKI, VIP, OASIS, KoreaMed, and RISS. Selection/exclusion from the retrieved records was performed according to prespecified criteria, and the final selected records were assessed according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The results of the included trials were synthesized on the basis of outcomes, and subgroup analysis depended on the type of add-on sham acupuncture that was performed. Results. Ten RCTs (690 participants) were eligible, and eight RCTs were eventually included in the meta-analysis. The synthesis showed a sizable effect of verum acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture on pain relief (standardized mean difference (SMD) −0.49, Z = 3.26, P=0.001; I2 = 59%), improving sleep quality (SMD −0.46, Z = 3.24, P=0.001; I2 = 0%), and reforming general status (SMD −0.69, Z = 6.27, P<0.00001; I2 = 4%). However, efficacy on fatigue was insignificant (SMD −0.10, Z = 0.51, P=0.61; I2 = 46%). When compared with a combination of simulation and improper location of needling, the effect of verum acupuncture for pain relief was the most obvious. Conclusions. Verum acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture for pain relief, improving sleep quality, and reforming general status in FMS posttreatment. However, evidence that it reduces fatigue was not found.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with persistent itching, which impairs quality of life (QoL). Although various conventional treatments for AD exist, patients with AD often seek complementary and alternative therapies when conventional therapy has failed to relieve their AD symptoms or has had adverse effects. Acupuncture treatment may relieve AD symptoms, but controlled trials are needed to confirm this. Following our pilot study, which found that acupuncture treatment improves AD symptoms in mild-to-moderate AD patients, we will assess the effect of acupuncture treatment for symptom relief of AD using a trial with a complemented protocol. This is a two-arm, randomized, participant- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial. A total of 36 mild-to-moderate AD patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive eight sessions twice weekly of either verum acupuncture (VA) or nonpenetrating sham acupuncture (SA) over four weeks. The primary outcome measured will be the change in the total Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score. Secondary outcomes will be (1) changes in AD symptoms, QoL, dyspepsia symptoms, and electroencephalography (EEG) between baseline and week 4 and (2) changes in AD symptoms and QoL at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, and 8. This study will assess acupuncture treatment for the alleviation of AD symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. This clinical trial gas been registered in Korean Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: KCT0002796; date of registration: April 13, 2018).

For chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of HfS2, HfCl4 is commonly used as the Hf precursor, and a sapphire (Al2O3) substrate is preferred to improve film crystallinity. During the HfS2 CVD process using HfCl4 and S precursors on the sapphire substrate, we observed an anomalous morphological evolution due to the chemical interaction between the Al2O3 substrate and HfCl4, particularly when the substrate was exposed to HfCl4 vapor too early, prior to the introduction of S. The excessive HfCl4-induced local chemical etching produced a serrated surface on the substrate, while pyramid-shaped HfO2 crystals (a by-product of chemical etching) and CVD-HfS2 flakes formed on the unetched and etched substrate surface regions, respectively. A mechanism for the observed morphological evolution is proposed based on thermodynamic and kinetic considerations, which emphasizes the importance of precursor supply timing to minimize the potential process-related defects.

Background and objective Trial registration is widely endorsed as it is considered not only to enhance transparency and quality of reporting but also to help safeguard against outcome reporting bias and probably spin, known as specific reporting that could distort the interpretation of results thus mislead readers. We planned to investigate the current registration status of recently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture, outcome reporting bias in the prospectively registered trials, and the association between trial registration and presence of spin and methodological factors in acupuncture RCTs. Methods Acupuncture RCTs published in English in recent 5 years (January 2013 to December 2017) were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE. Trial registration records identified in the publications and trial registries were classified into prospectively registered, retrospectively registered, or unregistered. Primary outcomes were identified and the direction of the results was judged as statistically significant (positive) or statistically nonsignificant (negative). We compared registered and published primary outcomes to assess outcome reporting bias and assessed whether discrepancies favored statistically significant outcomes. Frequency and strategies of spin in published reports with statistically nonsignificant results for primary outcomes were then identified. We also analyzed whether the trial registration status was associated with spin and quality of methodological factors. Results Of the 322 included RCTs, 41.9% (n = 135) were prospectively registered. Among 64 studies that were prospectively registered and specified primary outcomes, 25 trials had the discrepancies between the registered and published primary outcomes and 60% of them (15 trials) favored the statistically significant findings. Among 169 studies that specified primary outcomes, trial registration status was not associated with the direction of results, i.e., statistically significant or not. Spin was identified in 56.4% out of 78 studies with statistically nonsignificant primary outcomes and claiming efficacy with no consideration of statistically nonsignificant primary outcomes was the most common strategy for spin. Trial registration status was not statistically different between studies with and without spin. Conclusion While trial registration seemed to have improved over time, primary outcomes in registered records and publications were often inconsistent, tending to favor statistically significant findings and spin was common in studies with statistically nonsignificant primary outcomes. Journal editors and researchers in this field should be alerted to still prevalent reporting bias and spin.

Transition metal oxide-based memristors have widely been proposed for applications toward artificial synapses. In general, memristors have two or more electrically switchable stable resistance states that device researchers see as an analogue to the ion channels found in biological synapses. The mechanism behind resistive switching in metal oxides has been divided into electrochemical metallization models and valence change models. The stability of the resistance states in the memristor vary widely depending on: oxide material, electrode material, deposition conditions, film thickness, and programming conditions. So far, it has been extremely challenging to obtain reliable memristors with more than two stable multivalued states along with endurances greater than ∼1000 cycles for each of those states. Using an oxygen plasma-assisted sputter deposition method of noble metal electrodes, we found that the metal-oxide interface could be deposited with substantially lower interface roughness observable at the nanometer scale. This markedly improved device reliability and function, allowing for a demonstration of memristors with four completely distinct levels from ∼6 × 10

Objectives To assess the feasibility of a definitive trial investigating the effects of acupuncture on atopic dermatitis symptoms including itching. Design A randomized, sham-controlled preliminary trial with three arms with a 4-week intervention period and a 4-week follow-up. Interventions Thirty participants were allocated to three arms (the verum acupuncture group 1 [VA1, 3 times weekly for 4 weeks], the verum acupuncture group 2 [VA2, twice weekly for 4 weeks], and the sham acupuncture group [SA, twice weekly for 4 weeks]) at a 1:1:1 ratio. Main outcome measures We determined the visual analogue scale (VAS) for itching and insomnia, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores over the course of the study. Baseline index score (BIS) comparison according to general symptom was performed. Results The SCORAD, VAS (Pruritus), VAS (Insomnia), POEM, DLQI, and EASI were significantly improved in the VA groups. Significant BIS mean differences were observed most predominantly in epigastric tenderness and dyspepsia. There was no significant difference between VA1 and VA2 groups in all the main evaluation indices. Conclusions For the following research, the authors suggest SCORAD (Total) as primary outcome and SCORAD (objective), VAS (Itch), VAS (insomnia), EASI, POEM, and DLQI as secondary outcomes. Thirty six participants should be conducted a 4-week acupuncture period (twice weekly) and a 4-week follow-up. It is necessary to compare the differences of general symptoms according to presence of epigastric tenderness or dyspepsia at the screening level.

There have been fundamental changes in the roles of seaports as key nodes in the urban freight transport system, as maritime traffic grows significantly. To plan and manage the urban freight transport system effectively, it is very important to understand port decisions and interactions. Major stakeholders are shippers, carriers (i.e. ocean carriers, land carriers and port terminal operators) and Port Authorities in the freight transport system. The paper provides a conceptual framework that defines their distinctive roles and relationships in today’s global shipping market place. Then, freight network models to capture the optimal decision making process of the stakeholders are categorized by modeling methodologies and techniques with updated taxonomy. Finally, environmental issues in decision making are discussed due to increasing air pollution caused by freight shipping. A general equation for estimating port emission is proposed and modified equations of the cost functions for the carrier and shipper problems are suggested by considering the environmental cost additionally. The research provides useful insights and guidelines for future modeling directions and challenges.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Maekmoondong-tang (MMDT) is a traditional herbal medication widely used to improve cough in Korea, Japan, and China. It is composed of six herbs (Ophiopogonis Tuber, Pinelliae Tuber, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Zizyphi Fructus, Ginseng Radix, and Oryzae Semen). Aim of the study This study is aimed to systematically review the relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the effectiveness and safety of MMDT for cough. Materials and methods Electronic and hand-searching of 7 databases (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, OASIS, RISS, CNKI and CiNii) was systematically conducted up to February 2015 for RCTs testing MMDT in patients with cough. The primary outcome was cough symptom improvement using cough diary, visual analog scale, or response rate. Risk of bias of the included trials was evaluated with the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. The dichotomous data were pooled to obtain a risk ratio (RR) of cough persisting after treatment, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Nine RCTs involving 2453 participants were included. The methodological quality was largely poor for a majority of the studies. MMDT reduced the severity of cough by 74% compared with the conventional antitussive medications in various conditions (n=1145; RR of cough persisting after treatment=0.26; 95% CI, 0.19–0.34, I2=0%). The addition of MMDT to conventional medication in patients with postinfectious cough significantly alleviated symptoms up to day 5 but the effect was not maintained one week afterwards. For other diseases/conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer surgery, and asthma, the evidence is inconsistent for MMDT/mMMDT for cough. Adverse events appear to be rare but the reporting was poor. Conclusions The current evidence from our systematic review and meta-analysis on MMDT for cough is inconclusive and we propose that rigorously designed, placebo-controlled trials of MMDT should be conducted to establish its place in management of cough.

Objectives : To develop and validate a survey form for adverse events(AEs) associated with acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. Methods : The 1st version of a survey form consisting of 9 categories was developed and modified based on the analysis of questionnaires from previous studies on AEs. To evaluate content validity of the 1st version, a Delphi survey where experts in acupuncture and moxibustion, and research methodology were invited, was conducted alongside a separate content validity questionnaire. The content validity indices for each item and total scale were calculated as the proportion of the number of experts judging each item or scale valid to the number of total experts. Results : After the Delphi round 1, the content validity of 2 items and total scale was rated as inadequate. The 1st version was modified accordingly, and the 2nd version of the survey form was developed. The content validity of the 2nd version was assessed in the Delphi round 2 and the final version was completed after incorporating the expert comments. The final version consists of 13 questions regarding practitioner/patient information, condition/disease, intervention, treated body parts, safety issue and AE occurrence related with practitioner's behavior or instruments, AEs associated with treatment and emergency actions taken if necessary, time to AE occurrence, outcomes, serious AEs or death, and time to AE disappearance. Conclusions : This newly developed and validated survey form will serve to collect AEs associated with acupuncture and moxibustion treatments in Korea and contribute to establishing the evidence on safety of Korean acupuncture treatment.

Summary Objectives To assess the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine (THM) as adjunctive therapy for breast cancer as evidenced by randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods Five electronic English and Chinese databases were systematically searched up to February, 2014. All RCTs involving THM in combination with conventional cancer therapy for breast cancer were included. Results Eight RCTs involving 798 breast cancer patients were systematically reviewed. Three studies reported a significant difference in the improvement of quality of life (QOL) compared to the control group. Two studies reported an increase in the white blood cell count after treatment. Data on hot flashes and sleep quality were evaluated. However, no significant differences in immediate tumor response were observed. Conclusion THM combined with conventional therapy in the treatment of breast cancer is efficacious in improving QOL and in decreasing the number of hot flashes per day. More research and well-designed, rigorous, large clinical trials are necessary to further address these issues.

The paper presents a bi-level modeling approach for capturing hierarchical relationships among major carriers and finding carrier decision-making processes in maritime freight networks. Carriers are transportation service providers and generally include OC (Ocean Carrier), LC (Land Carrier) and PTO (Port Terminal Operator). They make pricing and routing decisions at each part of the intermodal freight system and have sequential relationships. OCs are considered as the leaders in maritime shipping markets since they generally choose both PTOs and LCs. The individual carrier group determines the optimal service cost and route that give the greatest profit. Hierarchical interactions between OCs and PTOs/LCs are captured in a bi-level model. The concept of multi-leaderfollower game is applied to the bi-level game, assuming multiple and competitive leaders.

Pedestrians not only walk along pedestrian pathways, but also choose unusual routes such as passing through buildings or crossing large scale open spaces. This study defines these unusual paths as social path, and includes them into one of the pedestrian road categories. Previous pedestrian accessibility and route choice studies could not evaluate correctly the space connectivity or optimal route because the social path was not considered properly. Therefore, this study analyzes the effectiveness of the social path in view of space connectivity focused on Coex and Seoul stations in Seoul, which are representative transit oriented development(TOD) areas. Global integration, which is widely used in network analysis, is selected (as performance index) to identify the space hierarchy and define new pedestrian links. The study results show that the network connectivity is improved especially in the main streets and social paths. This study demonstrated that the social path should be considered in finding the pedestrian optimal route from the practical perspective. Keywords global integration; pedestrian accessibility; pedestrian route choice; social path; space syntax ; 공간 통합도; 보행 접근성; 보행 경로 선택 Language: ko

Objectives The utilisation of healthcare services is the result of a complex decision-making process with different determinants. This study aims to identify the determinants of the utilisation of acupuncture treatment using Andersen's behavioural model and quality of life. Methods In this study we reviewed Korean Health Panel data, a nationally representative set of data, and analysed the utilisation of outpatient acupuncture services during 2011. A two-part model, which included predisposing, enabling and need factors of Andersen's behavioural model in model 1 and the additional factor of health-related quality of life (HRQOL, EQ-5D Korean index) in model 2, was analysed by logistic analysis to identify determinants of acupuncture service usage among subjects who visited traditional Korean medical clinics. Results The higher frequency of acupuncture service usage among patients who visited traditional Korean medical clinics was associated with gender, age, number of chronic diseases, physical disabilities and HRQOL of the subjects. Conclusions This study shows that the important determinants of the frequency of acupuncture treatment utilisation are gender, age, number of chronic diseases and the presence of physical disabilities. Our findings contribute to understanding the characteristics of patients who use acupuncture treatment and may be used as a basic resource for related policy making by government officials and medical professionals.

This paper presents a novel multi-level hierarchical approach which models carrier interactions in international maritime freight transportation networks. Ocean carriers, land carriers and port terminal operators are considered. Port terminal operators, providing transportation services within a port complex, are regarded as a special type of the carrier, based on their behavior. The carriers make pricing and routing decisions at different parts of the multimodal network, having hierarchical relationships. Ocean carriers are regarded as the leaders in a maritime shipping market. Port terminal operators are the followers of ocean carriers as well as the leaders of land carriers. The individual carrier problem is formulated at each level using Nash equilibrium to find the optimal service charge and routing pattern for which each carrier obtains the greatest profit. Interactions among different types of carriers are captured in a three-level model. The concept of multi-leader-follower game is applied to a multi-level game. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the validity of the developed three-level model.

Objective. This systematic review aimed to assess current evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of acupuncture for patients with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI).Methods. We searched twelve databases to identify relevant studies published before July 2014. The outcomes were serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and resumption of menstruation. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane’s tool, extracted the results, and evaluated the overall level of the evidence using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.Results. Eight RCTs were selected. Acupuncture significantly lowered serum FSH levels and more women receiving acupuncture reported resumption of menses. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to a small number of participants, high risk of bias for blinding, and likely publication bias. The level of evidence for FSH level and resumption of menses were assessed as “low” using GRADE.Conclusion. The current evidence on acupuncture for POI is insufficient to draw a firm conclusion due to scarcity of studies with a low risk of bias and likely publication bias. Further rigorously designed and conducted studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in patients with POI.

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This study aims to test the feasibility of a randomised clinical trial to evaluate how acupuncture affects atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms and quality of life and to explore potential biomarkers that may be associated with AD. It is a sham-controlled trial in which 30 eligible patients will be randomly allocated in a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio to one of three groups: verum acupuncture (VA) group 1 (3 times weekly for 4 weeks); VA group 2 (twice weekly for 4 weeks); or sham acupuncture group (SA; twice weekly for 4 weeks). SA will consist of nonpenetrating acupuncture. Outcome measures will include the Visual Analogue Scale for itch, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis, and Eczema Area and Severity Index to evaluate AD symptoms improvement along with the Patient Oriented Eczema Measure and Dermatology Life Quality Index to assess quality of life. Measures will be collected at baseline, once weekly during the treatment period, and after a 4-week follow-up period. Blood collection will be at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment and compared with healthy controls. Illumina sequencing will be used to profile microRNA expression in each group to explore candidate microRNA biomarkers for specific effects of acupuncture in patients with AD. This trial is registered via US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) on 15 July 2016, identifier: NCT02844452.

Despite recent efforts for the development of transition-metal-dichalcogenide-based high-performance thin-film transistors, device performance has not improved much, mainly because of the high contact resistance at the interface between the 2D semiconductor and the metal electrode. Edge contact has been proposed for the fabrication of a high-quality electrical contact; however, the complete electronic properties for the contact resistance have not been elucidated in detail. Using the scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques, the edge contact, as well as the lateral boundary between the 2D semiconducting layer and the metalized interfacial layer, are investigated, and their electronic properties and the energy band profile across the boundary are shown. The results demonstrate a possible mechanism for the formation of an ohmic contact in homojunctions of the transition-metal dichalcogenides semiconductor-metal layers and suggest a new device scheme utilizing the low-resistance edge contact.

Clinically, it has been reported that atopic dermatitis (AD) has been linked with negative emotional problems such as depression and anxiety, thereby reducing the quality of life, but little is known about the molecular mechanism that underlies AD-associated emotional impairments. We sought to determine whether AD could induce anxiety- and depressive-like symptoms in mice and to identify pertinent signaling changes in brain reward circuitry. AD-like lesions were induced by the repeated intradermal application of MC903 into the cheek of the mouse. We assessed dermatitis severity with scratching behavior, histopathological changes, anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors using the elevated plus maze, open field and tail suspension tests, and serum corticosterone levels. In the nucleus accumbens (NAc), dorsal striatum (DS) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), protein levels of dopamine- and plasticity-related signaling molecules were determined by Western immunoblotting assay. Intradermal administration of MC903 into mouse cheek provoked a strong hind limb scratching behavior as well as the robust skin inflammation with epidermal thickening. MC903-treated mice also displayed markedly increased anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, along with elevated serum corticosterone levels. Under these conditions, enhanced cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, 32 kDa (DARPP32) phosphorylation, significantly higher brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ΔFosB, but reduced tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) protein expression were found in the NAc, DS and VTA. Striatal BDNF, phospho-DARPP32 and phospho-CREB levels were significantly associated with the levels of depressive-like behavior in these mice. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that AD-like skin lesion elicits anxiety- and depressive-like phenotypes that are associated with neuroplasticity-related changes in reward circuitry, providing a better understanding of AD-associated emotional impairments.

The limitation of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) carried out with an in-lab source can be overcome by synchrotron-based scanning photoelectron microscopy (SPEM) that integrates the XPS technique with scanning microscopy, enabling the analysis of the chemical/electronic structure of a material with sub-micrometer spatial resolution. Using this analytical method, the changes in the structural properties of two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) materials according to the synthetic method used were studied. In addition to the monolayer form of a 2D MoS2 material (MoS2 monolayer), multilayered 2D MoS2 materials and MoS2 monolayers doped with the widely used p-type dopants, gold chloride (AuCl3) and bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide (TFSI), were prepared by a controlled synthetic process. Through comparative analysis of the SPEM data with those obtained by other techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, auger electron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy, the variation in the chemical/electronic structures of MoS2 2D materials depending on the synthetic process was clarified. From SPEM data acquired from locations where AuCl3 or TFSI dopant molecules were present, all the MoS2 chemical states were confirmed to have relatively lower binding energies than those of an as-grown MoS2 monolayer. These differences are related to the effects of p-type doping on the MoS2 2D material. Separately, the increase in the MoS2 layer number is manifested in the form of brightness difference in the SPEM data. Meanwhile, all the binding energies of the MoS2 chemical states including the onset of the valence band maximum are slightly lower in the bright regions than in the dark regions, and these binding energy differences are presumably due to the change in the bandgap change based on the MoS2 layer number.

This paper analyzes and compares the pedestrian characteristics of 5 urban communities with 2012 Seoul floating population survey data. First of all, differences in total pedestrian volumes and time distribution of the volumes are compared across the 5 urban communities and the effects of pedestrian road properties are investigated. Then, we conduct a regression analysis to find factors influencing pedestrian volume according to the type of urban community and day of week. As results, the urban community had the greatest volume and the volume increased significantly at lunch time. Center bus lane, bus stop, and crosswalk lead to more trips in the urban community, while opposite patterns occurred in the other communities. Less slopes and commercial region areas caused more trips in all communities. Regression analysis results showed that a variety of variables including demographic indices, land use type and pedestrian road properties differently affect pedestrian volumes in individual urban communities. The research can be used as basic data to establish polices for pedestrian environment improvement.본 연구는 서울시 유동인구조사자료를 토대로 5개 생활권역의 보행특성을 비교․분석하였다. 우선 권역별로 총 보행량, 시간대별 보행량, 조사지점 속성에 따른 보행량의 차이를 분석하고 , 다중선형회귀분석을 통해 평일과 주말 보행량에 영향을 미치는 요인을 규명하였다 . 분석결과, 대부분의 권역에서 중앙선, 버스정류장, 횡단보도가 있는 경우 유동인구가 증가하였으나 , 도심권에서는 반대의 현상이 나타났다 . 모든 권역에서 상업지역은 보행의 유발요인인 반면, 경사로는 보행의 방해요인인 것으로 나타났다 . 회귀분석 결과에 의하면 다양한 통행특성지표 , 토지이용지표, 사회적지표 및 조사지점 속성이 유동인구에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다 . 유동인구와 상관성을 보이는 변수는 권역에 따라 다소 상이하였으며 , 영향을 미치는 정도도 다름을 확인할 수 있었다 . 본 연구는 보행량을 종속변수로 하여 영향요인을 규명한 것으로 향후 보행환경 개선을 위한 정책수립시 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것이다 .

Stimulation degree, biomechanical force, and de qi sensation are the three major components of needle manipulation. To date, it has been difficult to measure all three components quantitatively.To (1) measure and compare biomechanical forces of six human acupoints in vivo during haptic manipulation, (2) develop phantom acupoints with biomechanical forces similar to those of human acupoints, and (3) validate the newly developed phantom acupoints based on assessment by doctors of Korean medicine.The biomechanical force and needle grasp sensation (i.e., the practitioner's de qi sensation) of six human acupoints (LI4, LI11, LR3, ST36, ST25, and BL25) were assessed in 16 participants upon stimulation with the twisting manipulation technique. On the basis of biomechanical data from these human acupoints, phantom acupoints that generated similar biomechanical forces were developed by using 1%-7% agarose gel.In humans, the mean torque amplitudes of the six acupoints differed significantly. In the phantom, the biomechanical force was dose-dependently greater in higher-concentration agarose gel phantom acupoints. Biomechanical force and the needle grasp sensation were significantly correlated in both human and phantom acupoints. Importantly, practitioners could not discriminate between human and phantom acupoints, suggesting that the validity and credibility of the phantom acupoints are sufficient for applications in education and research.Application of force-validated phantom acupoints based on human data will be a helpful tool for training and will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of acupuncture manipulation.

Objective Although there is a growing interest in the use of acupuncture during pregnancy, the safety of acupuncture is yet to be rigorously investigated. The objective of this review is to identify adverse events (AEs) associated with acupuncture treatment during pregnancy. Methods We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) and five Korean databases up to February 2013. Reference lists of relevant articles were screened for additional reports. Studies were included regardless of their design if they reported original data and involved acupuncture needling and/or moxibustion treatment for any conditions in pregnant women. Studies of acupuncture for delivery, abortion, assisted reproduction or postpartum conditions were excluded. AE data were extracted and assessed in terms of severity and causality, and incidence was determined. Results Of 105 included studies, detailed AEs were reported only in 25 studies represented by 27 articles (25.7%). AEs evaluated as certain, probable or possible in the causality assessment were all mild/moderate in severity, with needling pain being the most frequent. Severe AEs or deaths were few and all considered unlikely to have been caused by acupuncture. Total AE incidence was 1.9%, and the incidence of AEs evaluated as certainly, probably or possibly causally related to acupuncture was 1.3%. Conclusions Acupuncture during pregnancy appears to be associated with few AEs when correctly applied.

This paper presents a multi-level modeling approach which captures the cooperative behavior of carriers in maritime freight transportation networks. Ocean carriers, land carriers and port terminal operators are considered. Port terminal operators are regarded as a special type of carrier for modeling purposes. Ocean carriers are the leaders in a maritime shipping market. Port terminal operators are the followers of ocean carriers as well as the leaders of land carriers. For cooperating ocean and land carriers, compensation principle is used to find the optimal service charge and routing pattern that maximize their total profit, while port terminal operators act competitively. The concept of Stackelberg game is applied to a multi-level game, assuming a single ocean shipping company (leader) through an alliance. Subsequently, the paper considers cooperation between ocean carriers and port terminal operators, while individual carriers within the same group are considered to act competitively. Cooperative games within the same carrier group and between different groups of carriers are examined and compared with competitive games. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the validity of the developed model.