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The objective of this study is to provide a process that can be applied in preparation for the introduction of an efficient and systematic pavement management system. This process includes features for selecting pavement segmentation (for management) and priority based on a cumulative difference approach(CDA), starting from the development of an index that reflects the pavement condition and current distribution status. For the index, which can reflect the current pavement conditions of sections to be managed, this study proposes a basic model form and establishes a simple modeling plan that uses only 3 points (maximum value, minimum value, and management standard) for typical flaws. For pavement segmentation, this study establishes a plan that uses a moving average combined with a minimum maintenance length standard to reflect existing condition distribution characteristics as much as possible. Finally, for priority, this study establishes a plan that performs selections using the averages of the index values of the sections that require maintenance, as determined via the segmentation step.

Decrease in quality of postovulatory aged oocytes occurs due to oxidative stress and leads to low fertilization and development competence. It is one of the main causes that exerting detrimental effect on the success rate in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Auraptene (AUR), a citrus coumarin, has been reported to possess an antioxidant effects in other tissues. In this study, we aimed to confirm the potential of AUR to delay the oocyte aging process by alleviating oxidative stress. Superovulated mouse oocytes in metaphase of second meiosis (MII) were exposed to 0, 1 or 10 μM AUR for 12 h of in vitro aging. AUR addition to the culture medium recovered abnormal spindle and chromosome morphology and mitigated mitochondrial distribution and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) in aged oocytes. AUR-treated aged oocytes also showed suppressed oxidative stress, with lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, higher glutathione (GSH) levels and increased expression of several genes involved in antioxidation. Furthermore, AUR significantly elevated the fertilization and embryo developmental rates. Oocytes aged with 1 μM AUR exhibited morphokinetics that were very similar to those of the control group. Altogether, these data allowed us to conclude that AUR improved the quality of aged oocytes and suggest AUR as an effective clinical supplement candidate to prevent postovulatory aging.

Objective: To assess the preparedness among medical rehabilitation professionals for deployment to disaster settings and to establish a rehabilitation professional database for disaster training and deployment under the auspices of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM). Methods: A survey tool for preparedness for deployment to disaster settings was developed by the authors following approval from the Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand (RMSANZ) and ISPRM. The link to the online survey was distributed by email to members through the RMSANZ and Central Office of ISPRM. Participants were registered rehabilitation professionals who were members of the RMSANZ and/or ISPRM. The survey was voluntary. Results: Of the 76 respondents, the majority (94%) were rehabilitation physicians, 72% had >10 years of experience in rehabilitation medicine, 63% expressed an interest in future deployment, and only 24% had some disaster management training in the past. Almost all who expressed an interest in deployment wanted to receive any relevant disaster management training and education before deployment; others were interested in potential opportunities and expectations in disaster management, mitigation, communication, team structure, and telemedicine utilization. Conclusion: Surveying a larger cohort of rehabilitation professionals and documentation of context-specific rehabilitation skills relevant to disaster settings are needed. Establishment of a database of rehabilitation professionals, willing to be deployed, should be considered to assist with the integration of the rehabilitation workforce within the World Health Organization Emergency Medical Team Initiative.

Bud sports in fruit crops often result in new cultivars with unique traits, such as distinct fruit size and color, compared to their parent plants. This study investigates the phenotypic differences and gene expression patterns in Tonewase and Ohtanenashi persimmon bud sports compared to those in their parent, Hiratanenashi, based on RNA-seq data. Tonewase is characterized by early maturation, whereas Ohtanenashi is noted for its larger fruit size. Despite the importance of these traits in determining fruit quality, their molecular bases in persimmons have been understudied. We compared transcriptome-level differences during fruit development between the bud sport samples and their original cultivar. Comprehensive transcriptome analyses identified 15,814 differentially expressed genes and 26 modules via weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Certain modules exhibited unique expression patterns specific to the different cultivars during fruit development, likely contributing to the phenotypic differences observed. Specifically, M11, M16, M22, and M23 were uniquely expressed in Tonewase, whereas M13 and M24 showed distinct patterns in Ohtanenashi. By focusing on genes with distinct expression profiles, we aimed to uncover the genetic basis of cultivar-specific traits. Our findings suggest that changes in the expression of genes associated with ethylene and cell wall pathways may drive Tonewase's earlier maturation, whereas genes related to the cell cycle within the M24 module appear crucial for Ohtanenashi's larger fruit size. Additionally, ethylene and transcription factor genes within this module may contribute to the increased fruit size observed. This study elucidates the differences in transcriptomic changes during fruit development between the two bud sport samples and their original cultivar, enhancing our understanding of the genetic determinants influencing fruit size and maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced the Adult Sepsis Event (ASE) definition, using electronic health records (EHRs) data for surveillance and sepsis quality improvement. However, data regarding ASE outside the United States remain limited. We therefore aimed to validate the diagnostic accuracy of the ASE and to assess the prevalence and mortality of sepsis using ASE. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A single center in South Korea, with 2732 beds including 221 ICU beds. PATIENTS: During the validation phase, adult patients who were hospitalized or visiting the emergency department between November 5 and November 11, 2019, were included. In the subsequent phase of epidemiologic analysis, we included adult patients who were admitted from January to December 2020. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: ASE had a sensitivity of 91.6%, a specificity of 98.3%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 57.4%, and a negative predictive value of 99.8% when compared with the Sepsis-3 definition. Of 126,998 adult patient hospitalizations in 2020, 6,872 cases were diagnosed with sepsis based on the ASE (5.4% per year), and 893 patients were identified as having sepsis according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) (0.7% per year). Hospital mortality rates were 16.6% (ASE) and 23.5% (ICD-10-coded sepsis). Monthly sepsis prevalence and hospital mortality exhibited less variation when diagnosed using ASE compared with ICD-10 coding (coefficient of variation [CV] for sepsis prevalence: 0.051 vs. 0.163, Miller test p < 0.001; CV for hospital mortality: 0.087 vs. 0.261, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ASE demonstrated high sensitivity and a moderate PPV compared with the Sepsis-3 criteria in a Korean population. The prevalence of sepsis, as defined by ASE, was 5.4% per year and was similar to U.S. estimates. The prevalence of sepsis by ASE was eight times higher and exhibited less monthly variability compared with that based on the ICD-10 code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The management of bowel bladder disorder (BBD) has only been indicated for subjective constipation without objective evidence. We attempted to highlight the radiological findings in patients with BBD and construct a scoring system to identify patients with BBD prior to treatment. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) received polyethylene glycol for 2 months before bladder medication for LUTD. Based on partial response to LUTD following treatment, we divided the patients into LUTD-fecal impaction (FI) and LUTD not attributed to FI (LUTD-NFI) groups. Pre/post-treatment kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) were compared with respect to several radiographic parameters. Items with significant changes after treatment were included in the scoring system. The accuracy and inter-rater agreement were also evaluated. Results: Cecal dilation, descending colon dilation, fecal quality, and overall haziness were found to undergo significant changes after laxative treatment. We assigned 0 to 2 points for each item, with a total score of 8. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cutoff value of 5 between LUTD-FI and LUTD-NFI, with 79% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The scoring system was instructed to six doctors who were unaware of it and was then tested on previous patients, which showed a substantial concordance rate (κ=0.79, p<0.05). Conclusions: Fecal scoring system based on KUB was beneficial in identifying children with LUTD attributed to FI. This may provide an opportunity to obtain objective FI data as an alternative to subjective assessment of constipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of the extraction procedure was performed to enhance the antioxidant activity and whitening effect of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract using response surface methodology (RSM). The central composite design, a component of RSM, was utilized to optimize and validate the ethanol extract for antioxidant activity and the hot water extract for the whitening effect, respectively. Activities of antioxidant and whitening were determined by DPPH and tyrosinase inhibition assays. The antioxidant activity was notably influenced by ethanol concentration (p = 0.0344) more than other factors. The optimal conditions for the antioxidant effect were 54% ethanol concentration, 52 ℃, and 3 h extraction time, yielding an antioxidant activity of 83.65±1.56%. On the other hand, the whitening effect was significantly impacted by ultrasonic irradiation time (p = 0.0175) compared to other factors. The optimal conditions for whitening were 41℃, 1:19 of sample-to-solvent ratio, and 8 min of ultrasonic irradiation, achieving a tyrosinase inhibition activity of 51.00±1.80%. Highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was conducted to identify compounds such as tricin with antioxidant activity and p-coumaric acid, arbutin with whitening effect under the optimized conditions. The results suggest that the optimized extracts from S. quelpaertensis could be utilized as beneficial cosmeceutical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the potential of vinpocetine, a phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor, in treating atopic dermatitis (AD). The study used a mouse model of AD and found that vinpocetine improved symptoms such as skin inflammation and barrier function. It also reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and levels of certain cytokines in the skin. The findings suggest that vinpocetine could be a promising therapeutic option for AD, but further research is needed to understand its mechanisms and long-term effects. The research was supported by the Chung-Ang University Research Scholarship Grants in 2022. [Extracted from the article]

Elevated uric acid levels are linked with obesity and diabetes. Existing research mainly examines the relationship between sugar-sweetened carbonated beverage (SSB) consumption and uric acid levels. This study explored the association between the quantity and frequency of SSB consumption and elevated uric acid levels in Korean adults. Data from 2881 participants aged 19–64 years (1066 men and 1815 women) in the 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Serum uric acid levels were categorized into quartiles, with the highest defined as high uric acid (men, ≥6.7 mg/dL; women, ≥4.8 mg/dL). SSB consumption was classified into quartiles (almost never, <1 cup (<200 mL), 1–3 cups (200–600 mL), ≥3 cups (≥600 mL)) and frequency into tertiles (almost never, ≤1/week, ≥2/week). Multivariate logistic regression assessed the association, with separate analyses for men and women. Increased daily SSB consumption and frequency were significantly associated with high uric acid levels in men but not in women. After adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics, consuming ≥3 cups (≥600 mL) of SSBs per day and SSBs ≥ 2/week were significantly associated with high serum uric acid levels in men, but this association was not observed in women. The study concludes that increased SSB intake is linked to elevated uric acid levels in Korean men, but not in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the lung transplantation (LT) outcomes of patients with right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), focusing on the impact of various extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) configurations. We included adult patients who underwent LT with ECMO as a bridge-to-transplant from 2011 to 2021 at a single center. Among patients with RVD (n = 67), veno-venous (V-V) ECMO was initially applied in 79% (53/67) and maintained until LT in 52% (35/67). Due to the worsening of RVD, the configuration was changed from V-V ECMO to veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO or a right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator (Oxy-RVAD) in 34% (18/67). They showed that lactic acid levels (2-6.1 mmol/L) and vasoactive inotropic score (6.6-22.6) increased. V-A ECMO or Oxy-RVAD was initiated and maintained until LT in 21% (14/67) of cases. There was no significant difference in the survival rates among the three configuration groups (V-V ECMO vs. configuration changed vs. V-A ECMO/Oxy-RVAD). Our findings suggest that the choice of ECMOconfiguration for LT candidates with RVD should be determined by the patient's current hemodynamic status. Vital sign stability supports the use of V-V ECMO, while increasing lactic acid levels and vasopressor needs may require a switch to V-A ECMO or Oxy-RVAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Serological tests are widely used for scrub typhus diagnosis; however, their limitations are evident. This study aims to assess their practical value in clinical settings. Methods: We analyzed the data of adult patients with suspected scrub typhus who visited a tertiary care hospital in the Republic of Korea from September to December from 2019 to 2021. The included patients had an acute fever and at least one of the following ten secondary findings: myalgia, skin rash, eschar, headache, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzyme levels, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and pleural effusion. The diagnoses were grouped as scrub typhus or other diseases by two infectious disease physicians. Results: Among 136 patients who met the eligibility criteria, 109 had scrub typhus and 27 had different diseases. Single and paired total antibodies using immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and total antibodies using immunochromatography-based rapid diagnostic testing (ICT) were measured in 98%, 22%, and 75% of all patients, respectively. Confirmation using paired samples for scrub typhus was established at a median of 11 [interquartile range (IQR) 10-16] days following the first visit. Among the 82 admitted patients, the median admission time was 9 (IQR 7-13) days. According to IFA, 58 (55%) patients with scrub typhus had total immunoglobulin titers ≥ 1:320, while 23 (85%) patients with other disease had titers < 1:320. Positive ICT results were observed in 64 (74%) patients with scrub typhus and 10 (67%) patients with other diseases showed negative ICT results. Conclusions: Serological testing for scrub typhus is currently insufficient for decision-making in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : This study aims to identify the factors influencing field adaptation among nurses who have undergone department transfers, by examining the levels of and the relationships between their nursing work environment, interpersonal skills, grit, and field adaptation. Methods : The study involved 137 nurses who had experienced at least one department transfer within the last three years across two hospitals. Data analysis was performed using SPSS/WIN 29.0, involving descriptive statistics, means, standard deviations, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé post-hoc tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis (enter method). Results : Factors affecting field adaptation included the nursing work environment (β=.37, p < .001), interpersonal skills (β=.19, p=.021) and grit (β=.18, p=.025), with a total explanatory power of 31% (F=12.16, p < .001). Conclusion : This study contributes insights into effective nursing personnel management, offers foundational data for managing department transfers, and aims to improve the overall quality of nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of previous and/or concurrent application of radiotherapy (RT) in the course of nivolumab treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Patients with advanced HCC who received nivolumab treatment between March 2017 and May 2018. were included. Nivolumab treatment was indicated in patients who did not respond to conventional therapy including locoregional therapy and/or sorafenib. RT was performed when necessary for curative/palliative purpose. Results Among the 76 HCC patients who received nivolumab, 54 (71.1%) had received RT for HCC before and/or during the treatment. The period from initial HCC diagnosis to nivolumab treatment was significantly longer (P = .007) and the rate of undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE; P = .006) and sorafenib treatment (P = .007) was significantly higher in patients who received previous/concurrent RT than in those who did not. Nivolumab‐related toxicities were generally tolerable regardless of the history of RT. During the follow‐up, 39 (51.3%) patients died and 54 (71.1%) patients experienced disease progression according to the RECIST v1.1. Patients who had received previous/concurrent RT had a significantly longer progression‐free survival (PFS; P = .008) and overall survival (OS; P = .007) than those who did not receive RT; however, this trend was not observed in patients with a history of radiofrequency ablation or TACE (all P > .05). Conclusion Previous and/or concurrent application of RT in the course of nivolumab treatment was related with longer PFS and OS in advanced HCC patients. Nonetheless, further clinical studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Toxoplasmosis diagnosis predominantly relies on serology testing via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but these results are highly variable. Consequently, various antigens are being evaluated to improve the sensitivity and specificity of toxoplasmosis serological diagnosis. Here, we generated Toxoplasma gondii virus-like particles displaying AMA1 of T. gondii and evaluated their diagnostic potential. We found that AMA1 VLPs were highly sensitive and reacted with the sera acquired from mice infected with either T. gondii ME49 or RH strains. The overall IgG and IgM antibody responses elicited by AMA1 VLPs were substantially higher than those induced by the conventionally used T. gondii lysate antigen (TLA). Importantly, AMA1 VLPs were capable of detecting parasitic infection with T. gondii RH and ME49 as early as 1 week post-infection, even when mice were exposed to low infectious doses (5 × 103 and 10 cysts, respectively). AMA1 VLPs also did not cross-react with the immune sera acquired from Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Compared to TLA, stronger antibody responses were induced by AMA1 VLPs when tested using T. gondii-infected human sera. The sensitivities and specificities of the two antigens were substantially different, with AMA1 VLPs demonstrating over 90% sensitivity and specificity, whereas these values were in the 70% range for the TLA. These results indicated that AMA1 VLPs can detect infections of both T. gondii ME49 and RH at an early stage of infection caused by very low infection doses in mice, and these could be used for serological diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis.

To understand the relationship between microstructure and corrosion, in this study, underwater bead-on-plate laser welding was compared with the in-air laser welding of 10-mm-thick 304 stainless steel plates at different laser powers (2, 4, and 6 kW). Welding was performed via local dry underwater laser welding (UWLW) using a custom-designed nozzle and a fiber laser at a water depth of 70 mm. The best weld quality was obtained in both underwater and in-air environments using 2 kW of laser power. To understand the relationship between the microstructure and corrosion resistance of 304ss in underwater laser welding (UWLW), this study was conducted using a custom-designed nozzle. The grain boundary analysis revealed that the specimen prepared by UWLW had high-angle grain boundaries content approximately 1.5 times higher than that of the specimen produced by in-air laser welding, and the fraction of the coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries was increased remarkably. High residual stress and microchromium precipitation were observed in the UWLW specimen, and the corrosion rate of the same at 2 kW laser power was considerably similar to that of the in-air laser weld specimen.

Recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVV) are effective antigen delivery vectors and are researched widely as vaccine platforms against numerous diseases. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is one of the candidate antigens for malaria vaccines but rising concerns regarding its genetic diversity and polymorphism have necessitated the need to search for an alternative antigen. Here, we compare the efficacies of the rVV vaccines expressing either AMA1 or microneme protein (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei in mice. Mice (BALB/c) were immunized with either rVV-AMA1 or rVV-MIC and subsequently challenge-infected with P. berghei. Compared to the control group, both antigens elicited elevated levels of parasite-specific antibody responses. Immunization with either one of the two vaccines induced high levels of T cells and germinal center B cell responses. Interestingly, rVV-MIC immunization elicited higher levels of cellular immune response compared to rVV-AMA1 immunization, and significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine productions were observed from the former vaccine. While differences in parasitemia and bodyweight changes were negligible between rVV-AMA1 and rVV-MIC immunization groups, prolonged survival was observed for the latter of the two. Based on these results, our findings suggest that the rVV expressing the P. berghei MIC could be a vaccine-candidate antigen.

We tried to estimate anthropogenic emission sources, including the contributions of neighboring regions, that affect the fine particle concentration (PM2.5) in Daejeon using positive matrix factorization (PMF), concentration weight trajectory (CWT), and modified concentration weight trajectory (MCWT) models in a manner that might overcome the limitations of widely applied hybrid receptor models. Fractions of ion, carbonaceous compound and elements in PM2.5 were 58%, 17%, and 3.6% during January and 49%, 17%, and 14.9% during May to June, respectively. The fraction of ions was higher during winter season, while the fraction of elements was higher during the other season. From the PMF model, seven factors were determined, including dust/soil, sea salt, secondary nitrate/chloride, secondary sulfate, industry, coal combustion, and vehicle sources. Secondary sulfate showed the highest contribution followed by secondary nitrate/chloride and vehicle sources. The MCWT model significantly improved the performance of regional contributions of the CWT model, which had shown a high contribution from the Yellow Sea where there are no emission sources. According to the MCWT results, regional contributions to PM2.5 in the Daejeon metropolitan region were highest from eastern and southern China, followed by Russia, northeastern China, and Manchuria. We conclude that the MCWT model is more useful than the CWT model to estimate the regional influence of the PM2.5 concentrations. This approach can be used as a reference tool for studies to further improve on the limitations of hybrid receptor models.

To improve the reliability and safety of the electrical components used in automobiles, Cu and Al have recently been employed as electrodes, wherein lasers were used for rapid welding. However, in Al-Cu dissimilar metal welding, intermetallic compounds (IMCs) reduce the weld strength. In addition, the laser absorption rates of Al and Cu are low, and the reflectance is high, thereby impeding the welding process. To increase the absorption rate, a laser with a high beam quality must be used. Thus, a high-density, high-quality 5 kW single-mode laser was employed. Thin Al and Cu (0.2 mm thick) plates were processed and welded at welding speed 200–1000 mm/s, changing the laser-irradiated upper metal to Cu or Al. Post analysis, it was found that with a high heat input, pores were generated inside the Al, and when the upper metal was Cu, pores were mainly generated between the Al molten layer and the Cu mixed layer. As a result of tensile shear strength measurement, most of the aluminum area fractured at 118–151 N, and when fractured in copper, the strength was highest at 154 N. At a high welding speed, fracture was mainly observed at the joints along the IMCs or in the Cu mixed layer.

In the angiosperm, pollen germinates and rapidly expands the pollen tube toward the ovule. This process is important for plant double fertilization and seed setting. It is well known that the tip-focused calcium gradient is essential for pollen germination and pollen tube growth. However, little is known about the Ca2+ channels that play a role in rice pollen germination and tube growth. Here, we divided the 16 cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (CNGC) genes from rice into five subgroups and found two subgroups (clades II and III) have pollen-preferential genes. Then, we performed a meta-expression analysis of all OsCNGC genes in anatomical samples and identified three pollen-preferred OsCNGCs (OsCNGC4, OsCNGC5, and OsCNGC8). The subcellular localization of these OsCNGC proteins is matched with their roles as ion channels on the plasma membrane. Unlike other OsCNGCs, these genes have a unique cis-acting element in the promoter. OsCNGC4 can act by forming a homomeric complex or a heteromeric complex with OsCNGC5 or OsCNGC8. In addition, it was suggested that they can form a multi-complex with Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) protein or other types of ion transporters, and that their expression can be modulated by Ruptured Pollen tube (RUPO) encoding receptor-like kinase. These results shed light on understanding the regulatory mechanisms of pollen germination and pollen tube growth through calcium channels in rice.

The inevitable bleeding and infections caused by disasters and accidents are the main causes of death owing to extrinsic trauma. Hemostatic agents are often used to quickly suppress bleeding and infection, and they can solve this problem in a short time. Silk fibroin (SF) has poor processibility in water, owing to incomplete solubility therein. In this study, aiming to overcome this disadvantage, a modified silk fibroin (SF-BGE), easily soluble in water, was prepared by introducing butyl glycidyl ether (BGE) into its side chain. Subsequently, a small amount of tannic acid (TA) was introduced to prepare an SF-BGE /TA solution, and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were added to the solution to form the coordination bonds between the ZnO and TA, leading to an SF-based nanocomposite hydrogel. A structural characterization of the SF-BGE, SF-BGE/TA, SF-BGE/TA/ZnO, and the coordination bonds between ZnO/TA was observed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and the phase change was observed by rheological measurements. The pore formation of the SF-BGE/TA/ZnO hydrogel and dispersibility of ZnO were verified through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cytocompatible and hemostatic performances of the SF-BGE/TA/ZnO NPs composite hydrogels were evaluated, and the hydrogels showed superior hemostatic and cytocompatible activities. Therefore, the SF-based nanocomposite hydrogel is considered as a promising material for hemostasis.

This study investigates the effect of gate insulators on thin-film transistors (TFTs) using an amorphous InGaZnO4 (a-IGZO) channel layer. TFTs with single-layer Ta2O5 and dual-layer Ta2O5/SiO2 gate insulators were fabricated on a glass substrate. An evaluation of the insulating film using the MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) structure confirmed its electrical characteristics. Microscopic imaging showed that the dual-layer Ta2O5/SiO2 dielectric significantly improved surface characteristics. A reduction in the leakage current, better on/off ratios, and a decreased subthreshold swing (SS) compared to a single-layer Ta2O5 dielectric were reported. The dual-layer insulator composed of SiO2/Ta2O5 was highly effective in improving device characteristics.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a rare opportunistic infection in patients with solid malignancies. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of patients with solid cancers and PJP. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with solid tumors and PJP over an 11-year period, enrolling a total of 47 patients (30-day survival group: n = 20, 30-day mortality group: n = 27). Only 34% of patients received ≥20 mg of prednisolone for ≥2 weeks, and the 30-day mortality rate was 57.4%. The 30-day survival group included more women and patients with colon cancer than the mortality group. Furthermore, absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) were decreased at PJP symptom onset, as compared with the values observed 1–3 months earlier. Increased oxygen demand and low ALCs after 5–7 days of PJP treatment were also related to poor prognosis. Due to the limitations of this retrospective study, further studies that adhere to the PJP criteria of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium will be needed to evaluate PJP in solid malignancies more clearly.

This paper presents a design formula for a printed spiral coil to ensure the maximum quality factor (Q-factor). The formula is composed of a pattern’s metal thickness, single pattern width, total pattern width, and turn number, and is effective in the megahertz (MHz) frequency range. During the formula’s design, the resistance, self-inductance, and Q-factor are calculated according to the ratio of each pattern’s width and total pattern width and the turn number for different metal thicknesses, frequencies, and total pattern widths using a volume filament model (VFM). With a given turn number and metal thickness, the optimal ratio of individual and total pattern widths can be determined to ensure the maximum Q-factor. To verify the formula, some optimal coils were fabricated, and the calculations and measurements were shown to have good agreement. Furthermore, the optimized coils were shown to have higher coupling efficiency than the coils without optimal dimensions.

Continuous infusion of beta-lactam antibiotics has emerged as an alternative for the treatment of sepsis because of the favourable pharmacokinetics of continuous infusion. This study aimed to evaluate the survival benefits of continuous vs. intermittent infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam in critically ill patients with sepsis. We retrospectively conducted a single-centre study of continuous infusion vs. intermittent infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam for adult patients who met the Sepsis-3 criteria and were treated at a medical ICU within 48 h after hospitalisation between 1 May 2018 and 30 April 2020. The primary outcome was mortality at 28 days. A total of 157 patients (47 in the continuous group and 110 in the intermittent group) met the inclusion criteria for evaluation. The 28-day mortality rates were 12.8% in the continuous group and 27.3% in the intermittent group (p = 0.07). However, after adjustment for potential covariables, patients in the continuous group (12.8%) showed significantly lower mortality at 28 days than those in the intermittent group (27.3%; adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 0.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.13–0.79; p = 0.013). In sepsis patients, continuous infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam may confer a benefit regarding the avoidance of mortality at 28 days compared with intermittent infusion.

Heterologous prime–boost immunization regimens using various vaccine platforms demonstrated promising results against infectious diseases. Here, mice were sequentially immunized with the recombinant baculovirus (rBV), virus-like particle (VLP), and recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) vaccines expressing the Plasmodium berghei apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) for protective efficacy evaluation. The rBV_V_rVV heterologous immunization regimen elicited high levels of parasite-specific IgG, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody responses in sera. Upon P. berghei challenge infection, proliferations of germinal center B cells in the inguinal lymph nodes, as well as blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were induced. More importantly, rBV_V_rVV immunization significantly diminished the parasitemia and prevented drastic bodyweight loss in mice post-challenge infection with P. berghei. Our findings revealed that immunization with rBV, VLP, and rVV expressing the AMA1 conferred protection against P. berghei infection, providing evidence for the potential implementation of this strategy.

The metabolites produced by the gut microbiota have been reported as crucial agents against obesity; however, their key targets have not been revealed completely in complex microbiome systems. Hence, the aim of this study was to decipher promising prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and more importantly, key target(s) via a network pharmacology approach. First, we retrieved the metabolites related to gut microbes from the gutMGene database. Then, we performed a meta-analysis to identify metabolite-related targets via the similarity ensemble approach (SEA) and SwissTargetPrediction (STP), and obesity-related targets were identified by DisGeNET and OMIM databases. After selecting the overlapping targets, we adopted topological analysis to identify core targets against obesity. Furthermore, we employed the integrated networks to microbiota–substrate–metabolite–target (MSMT) via R Package. Finally, we performed a molecular docking test (MDT) to verify the binding affinity between metabolite(s) and target(s) with the Autodock 1.5.6 tool. Based on holistic viewpoints, we performed a filtering step to discover the core targets through topological analysis. Then, we implemented protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks with 342 overlapping target, another subnetwork was constructed with the top 30% degree centrality (DC), and the final core networks were obtained after screening the top 30% betweenness centrality (BC). The final core targets were IL6, AKT1, and ALB. We showed that the three core targets interacted with three other components via the MSMT network in alleviating obesity, i.e., four microbiota, two substrates, and six metabolites. The MDT confirmed that equol (postbiotics) converted from isoflavone (prebiotics) via Lactobacillus paracasei JS1 (probiotics) can bind the most stably on IL6 (target) compared with the other four metabolites (3-indolepropionic acid, trimethylamine oxide, butyrate, and acetate). In this study, we demonstrated that the promising substate (prebiotics), microbe (probiotics), metabolite (postbiotics), and target are suitable for obsesity treatment, providing a microbiome basis for further research.

Exosomes have been mainly studied for their potential applications in biomarker detection and drug delivery for diagnosis and treatment. However, in the field of forensic research, the potential value of exosomes derived from post-mortem body fluids has not been investigated to date. Here, we isolated the exosomes and exosomal RNAs from post-mortem body fluids, including cardiac blood, pericardial fluid, and urine. We also compared commercial exosome isolation kits to determine the optimal method for post-mortem exosome isolation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the Agilent bioanalyzer system, and western blotting were used to evaluate the efficiencies of alternative isolation methods and the characteristics of isolated exosomes. There were no significant differences between exosomes obtained from post-mortem and ante-mortem body fluids in the expression of exosome surface markers or morphology. The exosomes were well-preserved even under simulated post-mortem conditions. Among the isolation procedures tested, the membrane affinity column-based method was the most suitable for post-mortem exosomal RNA isolation. These results suggest that exosomes are well-preserved in post-mortem body fluids and could be utilized for forensic diagnosis.

Due to the increasing pressure on the environment from human activities, there is a growing need to understand the relationship between species and the environment. Therefore, this study constructs life cycle and niche from a geographic perspective, aiming to explain how existing spatial configurations affect the deterioration of coastal ecosystems. This research mainly adopts the method of literature analysis and field investigation, and then carries out four steps of reading, sorting, integration and analysis. In this study, the road kill data and living environment data of land crabs were integrated, and two results were obtained on the relationship between spatial conflict areas and land crab populations. The first is that the life cycle of land crabs is disturbed by TPH 26, thus confirming the spatial conflict hypothesis; the peak period of traffic flow at TPH 26 overlapped with the peak period of land crab larvae release, indicating that the spatial configuration of the reserve is not only a spatial conflict, but also a spatial-temporal conflict. Second, the land crab is an important indicator of coastal forests, and its niche also reflects geographic diversity, especially in features such as topographic structure, geological stability, and environmental humidity.

Nanoflowers, which are flower-shaped nanomaterials, have attracted significant attention from scientists due to their unique morphologies, facile synthetic methods, and physicochemical properties such as a high surface-to-volume ratio, enhanced charge transfer and carrier immobility, and an increased surface reaction efficiency. Nanoflowers can be synthesized using inorganic or organic materials, or a combination of both (called a hybrid), and are mainly used for biomedical applications. Thus far, researchers have focused on hybrid nanoflowers and only a few studies on inorganic nanoflowers have been reported. For the first time in the literature, we have consolidated all the reports on the biomedical applications of inorganic nanoflowers in this review. Herein, we review some important inorganic nanoflowers, which have applications in antibacterial treatment, wound healing, combinatorial cancer therapy, drug delivery, and biosensors to detect diseased conditions such as diabetes, amyloidosis, and hydrogen peroxide poisoning. In addition, we discuss the recent advances in their biomedical applications and preparation methods. Finally, we provide a perspective on the current trends and potential future directions in nanoflower research. The development of inorganic nanoflowers for biomedical applications has been limited to date. Therefore, a diverse range of nanoflowers comprising inorganic elements and materials with composite structures must be synthesized using ecofriendly synthetic strategies.

While dismantling nuclear power plants, the reactor vessel internal is cut underwater using mechanical and thermal cutting. In laser thermal cutting, assist gas must be used to remove melted metal; consequently, a large number of radioactive aerosols can be generated. To reduce the generation of aerosols, the assist gas pressure should be lowered. However, below the pressure limit, the molten metal is not well-removed from the cut surface and fails to cut. In this study, an assist gas visualization experiment was performed to find a condition for the gas to flow well inside the cut surface, even at low pressures. The top kerf width, nozzle type, distance between nozzle and specimen, and assist gas pressure were selected as process parameters, and in the case of large top kerf width condition, assist gas was able to penetrate deeply. In the actual laser-cutting experiment, the laser beam focus position was set to −20 mm and −30 mm. In the case of −30 mm, the top kerf width was widened due to the characteristics of the laser beam profile, and cutting was successful even though the assist gas pressure was lowered by 20%.

Serum myostatin and indoxyl sulfate (IS) levels increase with kidney function decline and may function as uremic toxins in chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related sarcopenia. Herein, we analyzed the association between serum myostatin and IS levels and sarcopenia in patients with CKD, by performing a post hoc analysis of baseline data extracted from the RECOVERY study (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03788252) of 150 patients with CKD. We stratified patients into two groups according to the median value of myostatin (cutoff 4.5 ng/mL) and IS levels (cutoff 0.365 mg/dL). The proportion of patients with sarcopenia was higher in those with high IS levels but lower in those with high myostatin levels. The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and handgrip strength (HGS) were significantly lower in patients with high IS levels but significantly higher in patients with high myostatin levels. IS levels showed a negative correlation with glomerular filtration rate (GFR), SMI, and HGS. However, myostatin levels were positively correlated with SMI and HGS, but not with GFR. Sarcopenia was independently associated with age and IS level after adjustment. Increased levels of serum total IS might play a role in sarcopenia, while increased levels of serum myostatin are associated with muscle mass in patients with CKD.

Heterologous immunization is garnering attention as a promising strategy to improve vaccine efficacy. Vaccines based on recombinant baculovirus (rBV) and virus-like particle (VLP) are safe for use, but heterologous immunization studies incorporating these two vaccine platforms remain unreported to date. Oral immunization is the simplest, most convenient, and safest means for mass immunization. In the present study, mice were immunized with the Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18)-expressing rBVs (rBVs-ROP18) and VLPs (VLPs-ROP18) via oral, intranasal, and intramuscular (IM) routes to evaluate the protection elicited against the intracellular parasite T. gondii ME49 strain. Overall, boost immunization with VLPs-ROP18 induced a significant increase in T. gondii-specific antibody response in all three immunization routes. Parasite-specific mucosal and cerebral antibody responses were observed from all immunization groups, but the highest mucosal IgA response was detected from the intestines of orally immunized mice. Antibody-secreting cell (ASC), CD8+ T cell, and germinal center B cell responses were strikingly similar across all three immunization groups. Oral immunization significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the brains as well as that by IN and IM. Importantly, all of the immunized mice survived against lethal challenge infections where body weight loss was negligible from all three immunizations. These results demonstrated that protection induced against T. gondii by oral rBV-VLP immunization regimen is just as effective as IN or IM immunizations.