Search

Since the previous paper of us (Song & Lee, 2007), Korean ports, like others in the region and world, have experienced a number of challenges, which have driven the ports to make either a slight adjustment or a substantial re-organisation in terms of their governance structure. This paper aims to examine such drivers and subsequent changes taken place in Korea since 2007. This line of analysis will give an insight into an evolutionary development and movement in the area of port governance as an exemplar to those stakeholders who might consider a similar type of measurement now and future. This paper will utilise the same lenses adopted in the previous research for a coherent and consistent comparison to discuss the evolution of administrative and ownership structures.

Organometal halide perovskites become important in the photovoltaic and light emitting devices due to the compositional flexibility with AMX3 formula (A is a monovalent organic ammonium cation; M is a metal ion; X is a halogen atom), imposing a significant demand to develop a synthetic route toward new types of nanocrystals. Although chemical pathways for perovskites nanoparticles were developed on the basis of the reprecipitation method, poor control of the nucleation and growth process results in a large size polydispersity that induces the ambiguities associated with a quantum confinement effect depending on their size. Here, a modified reprecipitation method is presented for the synthesis of CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite nanoparticles with a controlled nanoparticle size by systematically tuning the feed ratio of the precursors. Fine control of the nanocrystal size provides new insights into the quantum confinement effect observed in microscale and nanoscale perovskite materials, where their energy bandgap is...

Metallic indium (In) spheres were, for the first time, produced by the anaerobic ethanol oxidation of indium oxide. The changes in morphology and crystal structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction crystallography. The surface oxidation of In metal was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This novel method for the production of In metal will increase the potential applications of In to areas, such as semiconductor alloys, organic synthesis, and photovoltaic devices.

A life-threatening cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)-related injury can cause recurrent arrest after return of circulation. Such injuries are difficult to identify during resuscitation, and their contribution to failed resuscitation can be missed given the limitations of conventional CPR. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), increasingly being considered for selected patients with potentially reversible etiology of arrest, may identify previously occult CPR-related injuries by restoring arterial pressure and flow. Herein, we describe two cases of severe CPR-related injuries contributing to recurrent arrest. Each case had ECPR implemented within 60 minutes of the start of CPR. After the presumed cardiac etiology had been addressed with percutaneous coronary intervention, life-threatening cardiovascular injuries with recurrent arrest were noted, and resuscitative thoracotomy was performed under ECPR. One patient survived to hospital discharge.ECPR may provide an opportunity to identify and correct severe resuscitation-related injuries causing recurrent arrest. Chest compression depth >6 cm, especially in older women, may contribute to these injuries.

Continuous contact with self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ligands is essential for survival of naive T cells but not memory cells. This surprising finding implies that T cell subsets may vary in their relative T-cell receptor (TCR) sensitivity. Here we show that in CD8+T cells TCR sensitivity correlates inversely with levels of CD5, a marker for strong self-MHC reactivity. We also show that TCR sensitivity is lower in memory CD8+ T cells than naive cells. In both situations, TCR hypo-responsiveness applies only to short-term TCR signalling events and not to proliferation, and correlates directly with increased expression of a phosphatase, CD45 and reciprocal decreased expression of activated LCK. Inhibition by high CD45 on CD8+ T cells may protect against overt TCR auto-MHC reactivity, while enhanced sensitivity to cytokines ensures strong responses to foreign antigens. Naive T cells establish self-tolerance via negative selection of cells with strong reactivity for self-peptide/MHC complexes, but undergo T-cell receptor (TCR) desensitisation when leaving the thymus. Here, Choet al.show that TCR desensitisation correlates with cell-surface density of the phosphatase CD45.

This Special Issue has chosen eight special papers that were selected from the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road) for Transportation and Global Supply ...

Introduction: Thyroid function is evaluated by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4). Although many studies have indicated an intimate relationship between thyroid hormones and kidney functions, reports about the simultaneous evaluation of TSH and fT4 are rare. Objective: We aimed to analyze the association between TSH and kidney function, with emphasis on a potential nonlinear relationship, and identify an independent relationship between fT4 and kidney function. Methods: We reviewed the data of 7,061 subjects in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys who were randomly subsampled for thyroid function evaluation between 2013 and 2015. A total of 5,578 subjects were included in the final analysis, after excluding people Results: A 1 mmol/L increase of logarithmic TSH was associated with decreased eGFR (β: –1.8; 95% CI –2.3 to –1.2; p < 0.001), according to multivariate linear regression analysis. On the multivariate generalized additive model plot, TSH demonstrated an L-shaped relationship with eGFR, showing a steeper slope for 0–4 mIU/L of TSH. A 1 µg/dL increase of fT4 was also associated with decreased eGFR (β: –7.0; 95% CI –0.94 to –4.7; p < 0.001) on the multivariate linear regression analysis; this association was reversed after adjusting for age. On the mediation analysis, the indirect effect via age and direct effect per 1 µg/dL increase of fT4 on eGFR was 9.9 (8.1 to 11.7, p < 0.001) and –7.1 (–9.3 to –4.8, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: Increased TSH was associated with decreased eGFR, particularly in the reference range. The direct effect of increased fT4 was decreased eGFR, which may be affected indirectly by age.

In patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with an initial non-shockable rhythm, the prognostic significance of conversion to a shockable rhythm (or hereafter &ldquo, conversion&rdquo, ) during resuscitation remains unclear. We investigated whether conversion is associated with good neurologic outcome. We included patients with OHCA with medical causes and an initial non-shockable rhythm by using the national OHCA surveillance cohort database of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2012~2016. The primary outcome was good neurologic outcome at hospital discharge. Of 85,602 patients with an initial non-shockable rhythm, 17.9% experienced conversion. Patients with and those without conversion had good neurologic outcome rates of 3.2% and 1.0%, respectively (p &lt, 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, conversion was associated with good neurologic outcome (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.604, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.248&ndash, 3.015) in the patients with an initial non-shockable rhythm, and had the association with good neurologic outcome (adjusted OR 3.972, 95% CI 3.167&ndash, 4.983) in unwitnessed patients by emergency medical services (EMS) without pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) among the population. In patients with OHCA with an initial non-shockable rhythm, even if with unwitnessed arrest by EMS and no pre-hospital ROSC, continuing resuscitation needs to be considered if conversion to a shockable rhythm occurred.

There has been paucity of data regarding the secular trend of adverse outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) as compared with hemodialysis (HD) in Korea. 96,596 patients who started dialysis between 2004–2015 in Korea were identified using the National Health Insurance Service database. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval, CI) of PD over HD for mortality was 1.31 (1.27–1.36; P P

This paper presents a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system using electromagnetically actuated two-axis scanning micromirror. The distance measurement with the LIDAR is based on the indirect time-of-flight method using the relative ratio of the accumulated charges in capacitors connected to photodiode pixels, which is determined by the time difference between the transmitted and reflected light pulse. The micromirror has double gimbaled structure for two-axis actuation and circular reflection plate with the diameter of 3 mm. The horizontal scan angle of 49.13° was obtained by the resonant actuation at 28 kHz, and the vertical scan of 29.23° was achieved by the sinusoidal forced actuation at 60 Hz. The distance to multiple targets could be measured at once by laser scanning using the micromirror, and the distance profile LIDAR image was constructed by the measurement results.

Background and objectives There have been limited studies regarding the association between glomerular hyperfiltration (GHF) and restrictive spirometry pattern (RSP) in Korean adults. Methods We used data of 23,189 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2009–2015 with a complete data set including spirometry, serum creatinine, and anthropometric measurements. Spirometry data included the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). We defined GHF as the >90th percentile of age & sex adjusted estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and RSP was defined as an FVC

Objective Neuraminidase (sialidase) inhibitors are considered to delay platelet clearance through the inhibition of platelet desialylation. A novel neuraminidase inhibitor, peramivir, was recently approved for intravenous administration by the US FDA. We aimed to compare the effects of peramivir and oseltamivir on patient platelet count. Materials and methods Consecutive patients who were treated with peramivir or tested positive for influenza between January 2015 and December 2017 were analyzed. The analysis included 461 patients with platelet counts available; the patients were divided into three groups: patients with proven influenza treated with peramivir (n = 305); those treated with peramivir without proven influenza (n = 83), and those with proven influenza treated with oseltamivir (n = 73). Results Patients treated with peramivir did not show an increase in platelet count from the baseline count, regardless of proven influenza (from 263.4 × 109/L to 267.4 × 109/L; 9 = 0.410) or not (from 257.1 × 109/L to 255.4 × 109/L; p = 0.873); wheeras for patients treated with oseltamivir, a significant increase above the baseline was found (from 223.3 × 109/L to 249.9 × 109/L; p = 0.016), although it was transient. Conclusion Peramivir and oseltamivir appear to have different effects on patient platelet count when administered at the recommended doses. .

Studies on the effect of dietary protein intake (DPI) on chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, along with the potential hazard of protein-energy wasting (PEW), are scarce. We evaluated the association between DPI and kidney function both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, particularly emphasizing the role of PEW, in a large-scale, observational, multicenter, prospective study. We enrolled 1572 patients with non-dialysis CKD between 2011 and 2016. CKD progression was defined by a &gt, 50% estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease, serum creatinine doubling, or dialysis initiation. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted. During the mean follow-up period of 41.6 months, CKD progression was observed in 296 patients. Cross-sectionally, increased DPI was significantly associated with increased eGFR. Similarly, increased DPI tertile was significantly associated with increased renal survival in a Kaplan–Meier curve analysis. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, the statistical significance of the DPI tertile group in CKD progression was lost when PEW-related variables were added as covariates. In penalized spline curve analysis, the adjusted odds ratio of PEW significantly increased as DPI decreased. DPI, per se was not a major determinant of CKD progression. An intimate association between reduced DPI and PEW may be a more important predictor of CKD progression than DPI.

Objective Conversion to shockable rhythm from an initial non-shockable rhythm is associated with good neurologic prognoses in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We aimed to investigate whether conversion to shockable rhythm has an association with good neurologic outcomes, according to the etiology of cardiac arrest. Methods We conducted a nationwide, population-based, cohort study using the OHCA data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database in 2012–2016. We included patients with OHCA and an initial non-shockable rhythm. The primary outcome was good neurologic outcome at discharge, etiologies of arrest were categorized to medical, non-medical cause. We analyzed the effect of conversion to a shockable rhythm on outcome according to causes of cardiac arrest using multiple regression analysis. Results Of 114,628 patients with an initial non-shockable rhythm, 25,042 (21.8%) experienced conversion to a shockable rhythm; 83,437 (72.8%) had medical causes and 31,191(27.2%) had non-medical causes. In all patients with OHCA and initial non-shockable rhythm, adjusted odds ratio (OR) of conversion for good neurologic outcome was 2.051 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.181–2.297). The medical cause group showed an adjusted OR 1.789 (95% CI 1.586–2.019) of conversion for good neurologic outcome. In non-medical cause group, the adjusted OR of conversion was 0.644 (95% CI 0.372–1.114). Conclusion Conversion to shockable rhythm had an association with good neurologic outcome in patients with OHCA with initial non-shockable rhythms, especially due to cardiac cause. However, rhythm conversion was not associated with better outcome in patients with non-medical causes.

The Korean shipping industry was next to non-existent in its initial days. However, the spectacular growth of the country’s economic size and trade volume spurred the industry’s rapid growth. The globalization of the world economy in the 1990s led to the globalization of the demand for shipping services. The Transatlantic Route is one of the world’s three major sea routes, with the other two being the North American Route and the European Route. The shipping volume between Korea and Latin America was not stable, and businesses seldom transported cargoes using national flag carriers. The rapid economic growth of Asian countries in the 1990s accelerated the increase of shipping volume to America and Europe, as well as within Asia. Leading countries in the global shipping industry responded to the decrease in the popularity of sailor positions and reduced labor cost by centralizing the overall equipment and facilities of a ship, such as navigation, engine and communication systems.

Introduction: There are a few reports on including socio-economic characteristics of the patients with cardiac arrest over a long period. We intended to analyze discrepancy of pre-existing condition, medical services and find the influencing factors on long-term outcome in cardiac arrest using National health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. Methods: The patients (≥20 yrs) with claim with cardiac arrest event from 2004-2015 were included. The variables including demographics, insurance type, location of residence, pre-existing disease, medical expenses were defined from the raw data of NHIS database. Death within 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year were endpoints. The variables and endpoints were compared according to the type of insurance. The influencing factors and prediction model were analyzed and developed. The t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, logistic regression with generalized estimating equations methods were used (SAS ver 9.4, R software). Results: Health insurance group and medical aid group accounted for 86.7% and 13.3 % of total 488,129 patients. Medical aid group showed higher rate of middle-aged, pre-existing disease, residence in rural area, use of a low level hospital and longer hospitalization days. The mortality rate within 30 days, 6 months and 1 year was higher as 84.9%, 92.9% and 94%, respectively in medical aid group than in health insurance group. Short-term medical expense per 1-year survivor in medical aid group was lower as $5,896, compared with $7,088 in health insurance group and long-term expense was $23,735 in medical aid group compared with $26,524. Age, male, admission through emergency room, high comorbidity index were the prognostic factors for poor outcome. Coverage by health insurance program, care in higher level hospital, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia and defibrillation were the prognostic factors for survival. The c-statics for 30-days, 6-months, and 1-year mortality were 0.643, 0.679, and 0.687. Conclusion: There are disparities related to demographic data, pre-existing desased, type of medical institute used and clinical outcome. Insurance type, level of medical institute, urbanization level of residence were shown as the influencing factors for short-term and long-term outcome. (NRF-2017R1A2B1005037)

ObjectiveThere have been limited studies on the relationship between obstructive spirometry pattern and the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the association between obstructive spirometry pattern and incident CKD development in a large-scale prospective cohort study.MethodsWe reviewed the data of 7960 non-CKD adults aged 40–69 years who participated in the Ansung-Ansan cohort, a prospective community-based cohort study. Prebronchodilation results for the ratio of forced expiratory volume per 1 s (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) were used as the primary exposure. The primary outcome was incident CKD, defined as the first event of an estimated glomerular filtration rate 2. HRs and 95% CIs were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.ResultsOver a mean follow-up period of 11.7 years, incident CKD developed in 511 subjects (6.4%). An increase of 0.1 in FEV1/FVC was associated with a decreased risk of incident CKD (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.84, pConclusionDecreased FEV1/FVC ratio was independently associated with an increased risk of incident CKD development, particularly in people without metabolic syndrome. Future studies need to be conducted to confirm these results.

In this study, evaporator optimization, via both experimental and simulation methods was conducted. To evaluate the evaporator performance, under the optimal system, the compressor operating time and the effects of oil on the refrigerator system were studied. If the temperature of the refrigerator chamber reaches the setting value, the compressor stops working and it leads to the temperature of the refrigerator chamber slowly increasing, due to the heat transfer to the ambient. When the refrigerator temperature is out of the setting range, the compressor works again, and the refrigerator repeats this process until the end of its life. These on/off period can be controlled through the compressor piston movement. To determine the optimal compressor operating conditions, experiments of monthly power consumption were conducted under various compressor working times and the lowest power consumption conditions was determined when the compressor worked continuously. Lubricating oil, the refrigerator system, using oil, also influenced the system performance. To evaluate the effect of oil, oil eliminated and oil systems were compared based on cooling capacity and power consumption. The cooling capacity of the oil eliminated system was 2.6% higher and the power consumption was 3.6% lower than that of the oil system. After determining the optimal operating conditions of the refrigerator system, visualization experiments and simulations were conducted to decide the optimal evaporator and the conventional evaporator size can be reduced by approximately 2.9%.

Radiation esophagitis, the most common acute adverse effect of radiation therapy, leads to unwanted consequences including discomfort, pain, an even death. However, no direct cure exists for patients suffering from this condition, with the harmful effect of ingestion and acid reflux on the damaged esophageal mucosa remaining an unresolved problem. Through the delivery of the hydrogel with stent platform, we aimed to evaluate the regenerative capacity of a tissue-specific decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) hydrogel on damaged tissues. For this, an esophagus-derived dECM (EdECM) was developed and shown to have superior biofunctionality and rheological properties, as well as physical stability, potentially providing a better microenvironment for tissue development. An EdECM hydrogel-loaded stent was sequentially fabricated using a rotating rod combined 3D printing system that showed structural stability and protected a loaded hydrogel during delivery. Finally, following stent implantation, the therapeutic effect of EdECM was examined in a radiation esophagitis rat model. Our findings demonstrate that EdECM hydrogel delivery via a stent platform can rapidly resolve an inflammatory response, thus promoting a pro-regenerative microenvironment. The results suggest a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of radiation esophagitis.

Introduction The objective was to determine whether extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), when compared with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR), improves outcomes in adult patients, and to determine appropriate conditions that can predict good survival outcome in ECPR patients through a meta-analysis. Methods We searched the relevant literature of comparative studies between ECPR and CCPR in adults, from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. The baseline information and outcome data (survival, good neurologic outcome at discharge, at 3–6 months, and at 1 year after arrest) were extracted. Beneficial effect of ECPR on outcome was analyzed according to time interval, location of arrest (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA)), and pre-defined population inclusion criteria (witnessed arrest, initial shockable rhythm, cardiac etiology of arrest and CPR duration) by using Review Manager 5.3. Cochran's Q test and I2 were calculated. Results 10 of 1583 publications were included. Although survival to discharge did not show clear superiority in OHCA, ECPR showed statistically improved survival and good neurologic outcome as compared to CCPR, especially at 3–6 months after arrest. In the subgroup of patients with pre-defined inclusion criteria, the pooled meta-analysis found similar results in studies with pre-defined criteria. Conclusion Survival and good neurologic outcome tended to be superior in the ECPR group at 3–6 months after arrest. The effect of ECPR on survival to discharge in OHCA was not clearly shown. As ECPR showed better outcomes than CCPR in studies with pre-defined criteria, strict indications criteria should be considered when implementation of ECPR.

The unintended release of coal ash to the environment is a concern due to the enrichment of contaminants such as arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) in this solid waste material. Current risk assessments of coal ash disposal focus on pH as the primary driver of leaching from coal ash. However, redox speciation of As and Se is a major factor for their mobilization potential and has received much less attention for risk assessments, particularly in disposal scenarios where coal ash will likely be exposed to microbially-driven redox gradients. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the differences of aerobic and anaerobic conditions for the leaching of As and Se from coal ash. Batch sediment-ash slurry microcosms were performed to mimic an ash spill scenario and were monitored for changes in As and Se speciation and mobilization potential. The results showed that the dissolved As concentrations were up to 50 times greater in the anaerobic microcosms relative to the aerobic microcosms during the two week incubation. This trend was consistent with As redox speciation determined by X-ray absorption spectroscopy, which indicated that 55% of the As in the solid phase at the end of the experiment was present as As(III) (a more leachable form of arsenic relative to As(V)). In the aerobic microcosms, only 13% of the As was As(III) and the rest was As(V). More than half of the Se was present as Se(IV) in the original fly ash and in the aerobic microcosms, while in the anaerobic microcosms Se was gradually transformed to less soluble Se(0) species. Likewise, dissolved Se concentrations were up to 25 times greater in the aerobic microcosms relative to anaerobic conditions. While the overall observations of As and Se mobilization potential from coal ash were consistent with expectations for aqueous and solid phase speciation of these elements, the findings directly show the relevance of these processes for coal ash disposal. These results highlight the need to select appropriate environmental parameters to include in risk assessments as well as provide potential geochemical monitoring tools through the use of dissolved Se/As ratios to determine the redox conditions of ash storage and spill sites.

A new in-situ plasma processing technique is being developed at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) to improve the performance of the cavities in operation. The technique utilizes a low-density reactive oxygen plasma at room temperature to remove top surface hydrocarbons. The plasma processing technique increases the work function of the cavity surface and reduces the overall amount of vacuum and electron activity during cavity operation; in particular it increases the field emission onset, which enables cavity operation at higher accelerating gradients. Experimental evidence also suggests that the SEY of the Nb surface decreases after plasma processing which helps mitigating multipacting issues. In this article, the main developments and results from the plasma processing R&D are presented and experimental results for in-situ plasma processing of dressed cavities in the SNS horizontal test apparatus are discussed.

Background/Aims: Patients with minimal change disease (MCD) have a high relapse rate, which results in many complications. Identifying the risk factors for relapse is crucial, but little is known about these factors. Therefore, we performed the current study to determine the factors related to relapse in this patient population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 51 adult patients with biopsy-proven primary MCD treated between 2003 and 2013. The demographic, physiologic, laboratory and therapeutic data were gathered from the electronic medical records database. Lesions of the glomerulus, tubulointerstitium and vasculature were analyzed for associations with relapse. Results: During a median 50.9 months, 96.1% (49 of 51) of patients had achieved complete remission, and the rest ultimately achieved at least partial remission. A total of 56.9% (29 of 51) patients experienced at least 1 episode of relapse after the first remission. Patients with relapse had a higher rate of glomerular hypertrophy (GH; 34.5%) than those without relapse (9.1%; p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, GH was associated with increased odds of relapse (OR 15.992; 95% CI 1.537-166.362; p = 0.02). In a subgroup analysis according to median age, sex and tubulointerstitial (TI) lesions, the association between GH and relapse was evident only in men and in the group with TI lesions. Conclusion: GH is associated with relapse in adult patients with MCD, particularly in men and in those with TI lesions. Frequent monitoring and early intervention are needed in these groups. Future large prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the study results.

Background No study has compared the clinical impact of indexation of left ventricular mass (LVM) on adverse clinical outcomes in pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods We reviewed 2,101 patients from a large-scale multi-center prospective study that gathered anthropometric and echocardiographic measurements and clinical outcomes. The LVM was indexed as body surface area (LVMI-BSA) and height raised to the power of 2.7 (LVMI-H2.7). The main outcomes were composite renal and cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was defined as the highest sex-specific quartile of LVMI-BSA or LVMI-H2.7. Results During a mean period of 3.5 years, 692 patients developed composite outcomes (32.9%). The area under the curve at 5 year of LVM (60.6%) for composite outcome was smaller than that for LVMI-BSA (63.2%, P

In this study, biochars produced in two different atmospheres were used as catalysts for the valorization of furan, which derives from the hemicellulosic component of waste biomass. The biochars were produced from rice straw via pyrolysis in either an N2 or a CO2 environment (RSB-N2 or RSB-CO2) to modify their surface area and porosity. The biochars were then employed as a catalyst to support a bifunctional Ru–ReOx catalyst. The biochar-supported Ru–ReOx catalysts (Ru–ReOx/RSB) were compared to a conventional activated charcoal (AC)-supported Ru–ReOx catalyst (Ru–ReOx/AC). The biochar-supported catalysts exhibited differences in reducibility and contained a different form of Re species compared to the AC-supported catalyst, which was attributed to the presence of alkali metal (e.g., potassium) in the biochar catalysts. The reducibility and metal dispersion on the support were also strongly associated with the atmosphere under which the biochar was produced. In particular, the Ru–ReOx/RSB-CO2 catalyst consumed 24% more hydrogen than did the Ru–ReOx/RSB-N2 catalyst within a temperature range of 250 to 560 °C. The biochar-supported catalysts had 12 times fewer surface metal sites than did the AC-supported catalyst due to their lower surface area. The reaction rate on a per-site basis for the conversion of furan to tetrahydrofuran and 1,4-butanediol was also measured for the catalysts. The Ru–ReOx/RSB-N2 catalyst was twice as active as the Ru–ReOx/RSB-CO2 catalyst and three times more active than the Ru–ReOx/AC catalyst. This study thus proposes a straightforward strategy for modifying the catalytic properties of biochar catalysts and suggests a new application of biochar in the production of value-added chemicals from biomass and waste. The results also highlight the potential of biochar as a replacement for conventional catalysts in biorefineries.

In this study, the properties of methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite films grown by spin-coating and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method were examined and compared. Atomic force microscopy analyses indicate that the CVD-grown MAPbI3 films exhibit a smoother surface compared to their spin-coated counterparts. Phototransistors incorporating CVD-grown MAPbI3 as the active layer exhibit superior electrical characteristics, with field effect mobility values higher by approximately one order of magnitude. The degradation of phototransistors under negative bias stress (NBS) and positive bias stress (PBS) in the presence of illumination was evaluated and discussed based on the charge trapping mechanism.

Although endophytic bacteria are known to colonize Panax ginseng, little is known about their diversity and roles. We addressed in the present study by comparing endophytic bacterial populations in P. ginseng plants of different ages (2–6 years) and in various tissue types (root, stem, leaf, and flower stalk). A total of 116 strains assigned to 42 species were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. The predominant phylum was Firmicutes. Two-year-old ginseng plants and root tissues showed the greatest diversity of endophytic bacteria, with Bacillales being the predominant order. The antifungal activity of isolates against two pathogens, Cylindrocarpon destructans and/or Botrytis cinerea, was evaluated in dual-culture assays. In total, 28 strains showed antifungal activity with PgBE14 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), PgBE40 (B. megaterium), PgBE39, PgBE45 (Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis), and PgBE42 (Staphylococcus saprophyticus) inhibiting both pathogens. These results improve our understanding of the structure and diversity of endophytic bacterial communities of P. ginseng and identify strains with antifungal activity that have potential applications as biocontrol agents.

Background False positive rate (FPR) of the current basic life support (BLS) termination of resuscitation (TOR) rule in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients (not witnessed; no return of spontaneous circulation prior to transport; and no shocks were delivered) has been ethically challenging. We validated the current BLS TOR rule with using nationwide Korean Cardiac Arrest Research Consortium (KoCARC) registry and identified the factors for modifying the rules. Methods This prospective, multicenter, registry-based study was performed using the nontraumatic OHCA registry data between October 2015 and June 2017. Independent factors associated with poor neurologic outcome were identified to propose new KoCARC TOR rules by using multivariable analysis. The diagnostic performances of the TOR rules were calculated respectively. Results Among 4,360 OHCA patients, 2,801 (64.2%) satisfied all 3 criteria of the BLS TOR rule. The FPR and positive predictive value of the BLS TOR rule were 5.9% and 99.3%. Asystole as initial rhythm and age > 60 years were found as new factors for modifying the TOR rule. New KoCARC TOR rules, combination of asystole and age > 60 years with current TOR rule, showed lower FPR (0.3%-2.1%) and higher positive predictive value (99.7%-99.9%) for predicting poor neurologic outcome at discharge. Conclusions In this recent nationwide cohort, the current BLS TOR rule showed high FPR (5.9%) for predicting poor neurologic outcome. We anticipate that our new KoCARC TOR rules, application of 2 new factors (asystole as initial rhythm and age > 60 years) with BLS TOR rule, could reduce unwarranted death.

BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the association between hepcidin, iron indices and bone mineral metabolism in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. METHODS We reviewed the data of 2238 patients from a large-scale multicenter prospective Korean study (2011-16) and excluded 214 patients with missing data on markers and related medications of iron and bone mineral metabolism, hemoglobin, blood pressure and causes of CKD. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify the association between iron and bone mineral metabolism. RESULTS The proportion of CKD Stages 1-5 were 16.2, 18.7, 37.1, 21.6 and 6.4%, respectively. Per each 10% increase in transferrin saturation (TSAT), there was a 0.013 mmol/L decrease in phosphorus [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.021 to -0.004; P = 0.003] and a 0.022 nmol/L increase in logarithmic 25-hydroxyvitamin D (Ln-25OHD) levels (95% CI 0.005-0.040; P = 0.019). A 1 pmol/L increase in Ln-ferritin was associated with a 0.080 ng/L decrease in Ln-intact parathyroid hormone (Ln-iPTH; 95% CI -0.122 to -0.039; P

Background We developed a hospital-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training model focused on the target population (family members of patients with potential risks for cardiac arrest) and compared the outcome of CPR training between target and non-target populations for validity. Methods Family members of patients in training were divided into three groups on the basis of patients' diseases, as follows: 1) the cardio-specific (CS) risk group, including family members of patients with cardiac disease at risk of cardiac arrest; 2) the cardiovascular (CV) risk group, including family members of patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease; and 3) the no-risk group. Pre- and posttraining surveys and skill tests as well as a post-training 3-month telephone survey were conducted. Educational outcomes were analyzed. Results A total of 203 family members were enrolled into 21 CPR training classes. The CS group (n=88) included elderly persons and housewives with a lower level of education compared with the CV (n=79) and no-risk groups (n=36). The CS group was motivated by healthcare professionals and participated in the training course. The CS, CV, and no-risk groups showed improvements in knowledge, willingness to perform CPR, and skills. Despite the older age and lower level of education in the CS group, the effects of education were similar to those in the other groups. A high rate of response and secondary propagation of CPR training were observed in the CS group. Conclusion Family members of patients with heart disease could be an appropriate target population for CPR training, particularly in terms of recruitment and secondary propagation. Targeted intervention may be an effective training strategy to improve bystander CPR rates.

Despite the secondary importance of maritime transport in North Korea’s economic development, maritime data obtained from Lloyd’s List Intelligence (LLI) provide a unique possibility to map and analyze North Korea’s transport dynamics over the last 40 years or so. Major traffic shifts internally (among North Korean ports) and externally (overseas connectivity with foreign ports) are underlined in this study, alongside other trends such as the overall cargo specialization, age and size, turnaround time, and flag nationality of vessels passing through North Korean ports. Crossing maritime data with trade data also allows confirming the declining importance of sea transport in foreign trade, given the increase of cross-border trucking and rail transport with China. Nevertheless, recent years witnessed a drastic shrinkage of North Korea’s global connectivity and an unprecedented concentration of overseas traffic at North China ports. A zoom on inter-Korean maritime dynamics is also provided alongside twelve periods of three years between 1980 and 2015. We conclude that maritime data is a good indicator of the wider economic and trade evolution of North Korea, and can base further analyses of its influence on future development.

Background and objectives To determine whether the delivery method is associated with the rate of anemia in later life, using the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods This study used data from the KNHANES 2010–2012. Among 25,534 participants, 8,126 cases were included in this study after exclusion of males and other inappropriate data. The study population was divided into three groups according to the delivery modes: vaginal delivery (VD) only group, single cesarean delivery (SCD) group and repetitive cesarean delivery (RCD) group. The primary outcome was anemia and iron deficiency. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin

The triboelectric property of a material is important to improve an efficiency of triboelectric generator (TEG) in energy harvesting from an ambient energy. In this study, we have studied the TEG property of a semiconducting which has yet to be explored so far. As a counter triboelectric material, PET and glass are used. Vertical contact mode is utilized to evaluate the TEG efficiency. thin film is deposited by atomic layer deposition on bare Si wafer for various thicknesses from 5.2 nm to 34.6 nm, where the TEG output is increased from 13.9V to 73.5V. Triboelectric series are determined by comparing the polarity of output voltage of 2 samples among , PET, and glass. In conclusion, , as an intrinsic n-type material, has the most strong tendency to be positive side to lose the electron and PET has the most strong tendency to be negative side to get the electron, and glass to be between them. Therefore, the -PET combination shows the highest TEG efficiency.

This paper proposes a reconfigurable square-patch antenna with polarization diversity. The proposed antenna consists of a square radiating patch and a Y-shaped feed structure with two PIN diodes. The shape of the feed structure can be changed by adjusting the bias states of the two PIN diodes, which helps switch between two orthogonal linear polarizations. The polarization diversity characteristic is validated by the simulated current distribution and the measured radiation pattern.

The purpose of this study is to develope BIM Template according to major building material for efficiently and quantitatively evaluating greenhouse gas emission at the design stage. Template users consider various environmental impacts without connecting simulation tools for analyzing environmental impact and Template users who have no prior knowledge can Life Cycle Assessment by using The green template. For this study, Database which was reflected in template was constructed considering environmental performance. and 6 kinds of environmental impact categories and PPS standard construction codes were analyzed by major building material derived from literature. Based on this analyzed data, The major Material Family according to the main building material was developed. When users conduct modeling by utilizing Family established, evaluating result can be confirmed in the Revit BIM Modeling program by using the schedule function of the Revit. Users through the modeling, the decision-making environment performance possible. In addition, we propose to create a guideline for the steps required to build an additional established family.