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Invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae syndrome is defined as community-acquired liver abscess and metastatic infections in the lung, soft tissue, and central nervous system (CNS) caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae. Metastatic CNS infection in invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae syndrome shows rapid clinical deterioration and a high mortality rate. We present a case of ventriculitis caused by invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae syndrome successfully treated with a timely diagnosis, immediate surgical intervention, and administration of antibiotics.

Objective: This nationally matched longitudinal study aimed to investigate the relationship between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in Korea.Methods: We collected patient data from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2015 from the National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort. Patients with OPLL were defined as patients with the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code M48.8 (other specified spondylopathies) and were newly diagnosed through computed tomography imaging. The OPLL group had a total of 1,289 patients. The control group included 6,445 people. Utilizing the Kaplan-Meier technique, The incidence of AMI in both groups was estimated. A Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis was used to compute the AMI hazard ratio.Results: After controlling for age and sex, the hazard ratio of AMI in the OPLL group was 2.065 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.228-3.474). The adjusted hazard ratio in the OPLL group was 2.209 after restricting the sample for demographics and concomitant medical conditions (95% CI, 1.311-3.721). In a subgroup analysis, the incidence of AMI was substantially greater in the OPLL group, which included women younger than 65 years and without hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia.Conclusion: This nationwide longitudinal study found that patients with OPLL were at higher risk of AMI.

Objective: The purpose of this nationwide longitudinal follow-up study was to investigate the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) in pyogenic spondylitis (PS) patients in Korea.Methods: A total of 628 patients were enrolled in the PS group from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2015 from the National Health Insurance Service Health Screening cohort. PS was identified using the International Classification of Disease, 10th revision codes M46.2–M46.8 and M49.2–M49.3. The control group consisted of 3,140 subjects with 1:5 age- and sex-stratified matching. The 12-year CHF incidence rates in the PS and control groups were compared by the Kaplan-Meier method. The hazard ratio of CHF was estimated by Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis.Results: During the 12-year follow-up period, 16 patients (2.55%) in the PS group and 43 (1.47%) in the control group developed CHF. The hazard ratio of CHF in the PS group was 6.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.39–11.81) after adjusting for sex and age. The hazard ratio of CHF in the PS group was 6.49 (95% CI, 3.47–12.15) after adjusting for sex, age, and income. The hazard ratio of CHF in the PS group was 6.58 (95% CI, 3.50–12.40) after adjusting for sex, age, income, and comorbid medical disorders. In subgroup analyses, all subgroups showed higher CHF incidence rates in the PS group than in the control group.Conclusion: Our nationwide longitudinal study shows a higher incidence rate of CHF in PS patients.

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of various dietary levels of garlic juice processing waste (GJPW) on the growth, feed utilization, digestive and antioxidant enzyme activity, growth- and antioxidant-related gene expression, and resistance to

The effect of 3 forging routes (Route A - 1~12 passes by plane forging (PF) and reverse-plane forging (R-PF), Route B – 1~6 passes by PF and R-PF, 7~12 passes by diagonal forging (DF) and reversediagonal forging (R-DF), Route C – 1~12 passes by DF and R-DF) on maximum load to produce the workpiece, deformation heterogeneity and hydrostatic pressure distribution in AA1100 was theoretically investigated using finite element analysis (FEA). The maximum load per pass required to complete 1 cycle of the SPD process was different depending on the forging routes. Route A was relatively higher than Route B and C. From the results of effective strain, the deformation heterogeneity was predicted at the center, edge, and corner regions of the AA1100 workpiece produced by Route A and B. However, the distribution of effective strain in Route C was relatively more homogeneous than Route A and B. The average hydrostatic pressure, which is closely related to the suppression of crack formation in the workpiece under multi-axial forging, was predicted to be relatively bigger in Route C than Route A and B.

Twist-spun carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns are composed of numerous CNTs and their bundles with entangled and twisted structures. In this paper, we studied the mechanical properties of CNT yarns. The individual CNT, a component of yarn, is well known to have an extremely high mechanical strength. However, CNT yarns are very flexible and relatively free to transform their shapes, showing the potential for application in the design of wearable devices. Since CNT yarns have two opposing characteristics at the same time, a wide range of Young's modulus can be achieved by simply changing the geometrical structure while using the same fabrication process. We also suggest that CNT yarns can be utilized as the base material for several applications that require different stresses in a structure, such as bioimplants or foldable devices.

We report unusual absolute negative resistance phenomena in twisted superconducting yarns consisting of niobium-nitride (NbN) nanowires formed on a template of aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets. In the vicinity of the superconducting critical temperature and critical current, the electrical resistance with a standard four-probe configuration exhibits negative values for many wire-shaped twisted yarns. This anomalous behavior at the superconducting transition stage is analyzed using a simplified circuit model, where the charge conduction is determined by the combination between the intra- and internanofiber transports inside the yarn. The superconducting transition of intrafibrillar transport along CNT-templated NbN nanowires was distinguished from that of an interfibrillar one, where the latter exhibits the ensemble property of superconducting weak links among adjacent NbN nanowires. Furthermore, the topological similarity between the sheet of an aligned array of nanowires and the yarn of twisted nanofibrils enables the occurrence of this anomaly. This study indicates that the quantitative network-based approach is effective for the analysis of anomalous charge conduction through nanowire-based anisotropic materials.

Background With the occurrence of a number of major disasters around the world, there is growing interest in chemical disaster medicine. In South Korea, there is a training program for mass casualty incidents (MCI) and backup by legal regulations by the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety. However, there is no program focusing on chemical disasters. Thus, the authors newly created a program, the Chemical-Mass Casualty Incident Response Education Module (C-MCIREM) in September 2019. This was a pilot study to verify the educational effect of the program. Method A pre/post study was conducted of a chemical MCI training program based on simulation. A total of 25 representative and qualified participants were recruited from fire departments, administrative staff of public health centers, and healthcare workers of hospitals in the Gyeonggi-do province of South Korea. They participated in a one-day training program. A knowledge test and confidence survey were provided to participants just before training, and again immediately following the training online. The authors compared improvements of pre/post-test results. In the tabletop drill exercise, quantified qualitative analyses were used to measure the educational effect on the participants. Results In the knowledge test, the mean (standard deviation) scores for all 25 participants at baseline and after training were 41.72 (15.186) and 77.96 (11.227), respectively (p

High-strength carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enhance the mechanical properties in metal matrix composites; however, their extremely high aspect ratio leads to the anisotropy of mechanical properties. This underlying issue has not yet been clarified owing to the complicated multiple strengthening mechanisms. Herein, we report the anisotropic mechanical properties of a CNT-reinforced aluminum composite and strengthening mechanisms. The uniaxial alignment of CNTs and control of alignment angles were achieved via a mechanical pulling method using a vertically grown CNT forest. As a result, the modulus and strengths decreased in proportion to the misorientation angle. Owing to the superaligned CNTs, the experimental tensile strength in the iso-strain state of the Al-0.15 vol% CNT composite (improved by 20.1%) was near the theoretical value (21.8%), and the strengthening efficiency of the composite was ∼1000. On the other hand, there was a significant deviation between the experimental result and theoretical value in the iso-stress state of the composites. This unusual anisotropic tendency was demonstrated by the strengthening effect of the CNT bridges, which tied the aligned CNTs together, in line with the interconnecting model. The anisotropic mechanical properties corroborate well with our predicted model from calculation by the failure criterion theory with the interconnecting model.

The vertebrate body plan is accomplished by left-right asymmetric organ development and the heart is a representative asymmetric internal organ which jogs to the left-side. Kupffer's vesicle (KV) is a spherical left-right organizer during zebrafish embryogenesis and is derived from a cluster of dorsal forerunner cells (DFCs). Cadherin1 is required for collective migration of a DFC cluster and failure of DFC collective migration by Cadherin1 decrement causes KV malformation which results in defective heart laterality. Recently, loss of function mutation of A-kinase anchoring protein 12 (AKAP12) is reported as a high-risk gene in congenital heart disease patients. In this study, we demonstrated the role of akap12β in asymmetric heart development. The akap12β, one of the akap12 isoforms, was expressed in DFCs which give rise to KV and akap12β-deficient zebrafish embryos showed defective heart laterality due to the fragmentation of DFC clusters which resulted in KV malformation. DFC-specific loss of akap12β also led to defective heart laterality as a consequence of the failure of collective migration by cadherin1 reduction. Exogenous akap12β mRNA not only restored the defective heart laterality but also increased cadherin1 expression in akap12β morphant zebrafish embryos. Taken together, these findings provide the first experimental evidence that akap12β regulates heart laterality via cadherin1. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(8): 525-530].

Optimal transport conditions for the live black rockfish and changes in their characteristics during long-distance transport were investigated. Oxygen consumption by black rockfish was lowe...

This nationwide study aimed to compare the medical burdens of pyogenic spondylitis (PS) and tuberculous spondylitis (TS) between 2007 and 2016 in Korea.We used a national database managed by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) with data from the years 2007 and 2016. A total of 9655 newly diagnosed patients with PS or TS were correspondingly enrolled in the PS or TS group. Chi square test analyses were used to compare the PS and TS groups.The overall incidence of infectious spondylitis during the study period was 9655 persons. The PS and TS groups consisted of 7305 and 2350 cases, respectively. Individual medical costs in the PS group (USD 10,049 ± 94 vs. USD 16,672 ± 17,729, P 0.001) and the TS group (USD 4882 ± 6869 vs. USD 8531 ± 10,709, P 0.001) both increased. The total medical cost for the PS group increased significantly between 2007 and 2016 in Korea (USD 24,428,560 vs. USD 81,044,196, P 0.001). In contrast, the total medical cost for the TS group decreased between 2007 and 2016 in Korea (USD 8,573,038 vs. USD 4,879,520, P 0.001).This nationwide study shows that the total medical cost of PS has increased and that the total medical cost of TS has decreased between 2007 and 2016 in Korea.

Electronic textiles (e-textiles) need to have high heat durability for various applications. However, current e-textiles are usually damaged by high-temperature processes. We report silk-based e-textiles fabricated by simple pyrolysis with axial stretching that demonstrate high electrical conductivity and thermal durability. The electrical conductivity of the proposed e-textiles was on the order of 103S/cm and the electrical characteristics were maintained even after heating and bending. Furthermore, we prepared e-textiles with various electronic properties, such as semiconducting, superconducting, and light-emitting properties, by depositing ZnO, MoSe2, and NbN onto the commercial silk-based e-textiles using sputtering and evaporation. We introduced a simple method for fabricating silk-based e-textiles with various electronic properties, which are compatible with the current textile industry.

In the present study, we have investigated the effect of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) on the cryogenic mechanical properties of CrCoNi medium entropy alloy (MEA) fabricated by direct energy deposition (DED). The microstructure and mechanical properties of as-built and HIP treated CrCoNi MEA-DED were characterized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and uniaxial tensile test at room (298 K) and cryogenic (77 K) temperatures. The CrCoNi MEA-DED after HIP exhibits a decrease in strength due to the reduction of dislocation density. At 77 K, the as-built CrCoNi MEA-DED shows a typical trade-off tensile behavior of increased strength and reduced elongation to fracture. The HIP treated CrCoNi MEA-DED reveals an excellent combination of high strength and preserved elongation to fracture at 77 K, resulting in significant increase of the strain energy density by 56% compared to room temperature. The excellent elongation to fracture with high strength at 77 K is attributed to a significant decrease of micropores after HIP. Furthermore, the earlier activation of deformation twinning at low strains in the HIP treated CrCoNi MEA-DED can provide steady work hardening behavior, which postpones the onset of necking instability. It reveals that the CrCoNi MEA-DED with HIP possesses the exceptional mechanical properties at cryogenic temperature in comparison with the other CrCoNi MEAs prepared by different processes.

The role of kimchi probiotic bacteria in reducing the amounts of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and its precursors occurring in the kimchi-making process and digestion was assessed using Leuconostoc carnosum (LEC), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (LEM), Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), and Lactobacillus sakei (LS) grown in MRS broth containing NDMA or its precursors. The results showed that the four bacteria could directly deplete NDMA and nitrite levels in the MRS broth, and this effect was more pronounced in the presence of LP and LS than in LEC and LEM. The concentration of NDMA and its precursors (nitrite, dimethylamine, and biogenic amine) were significantly reduced in bacteria-fortified kimchi compared with the control kimchi, the extent of which depended on the respective bacterial load. Endogenous formation of NDMA by precursors in bacteria-fortified kimchi was demonstrated under simulated gastric digestion. Following digestion, the bacteria-fortified kimchi inhibited NDMA formation. These results suggest that probiotic bacteria may cause a significant decrease in NDMA occurring in kimchi, possibly by direct degradation and inhibition of NDMA formation. Therefore, such lactic acid bacteria could be used in the kimchi-making process to reduce NDMA levels, with an emphasis on LP as it exerted a greater reduction in NDMA concentration in the bacteria-fortified kimchi.

To investigate whether lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a role in reducing the concentrations of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and its precursors during kimchi production, experimental kimchi prepared with added Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus curvatus, and Lactobacillus brevis was periodically monitored for 20 days to analyze the concentrations of NDMA, nitrite, dimethylamine (DMA), nitrate, and biogenic amines. LAB species in MRS broth with and without NDMA or NaNO2 were grown and NDMA and nitrite concentrations studied. The amounts of NDMA, nitrite, DMA, nitrate, and biogenic amines remaining in the LAB-fortified kimchi decreased significantly relative to that of the control kimchi. The effects of L. sakei and L. curvatus on the reduction of NDMA concentration in kimchi were higher than that of L. brevis. These LAB species might be indirectly reducing the amounts of NDMA in LAB-fortified kimchi by inhibiting the formation of NDMA precursors originating from kimchi. Interestingly, LAB were found to directly degrade NDMA during culture in MRS broth containing NDMA.

This nationwide study aimed to compare the medical burdens of pyogenic spondylitis (PS) and tuberculous spondylitis (TS) between 2007 and 2016 in Korea.We used a national database managed by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) with data from the years 2007 and 2016. A total of 9655 newly diagnosed patients with PS or TS were correspondingly enrolled in the PS or TS group. Chi square test analyses were used to compare the PS and TS groups.The overall incidence of infectious spondylitis during the study period was 9655 persons. The PS and TS groups consisted of 7305 and 2350 cases, respectively. Individual medical costs in the PS group (USD 10,049 ± 94 vs. USD 16,672 ± 17,729, P 0.001) and the TS group (USD 4882 ± 6869 vs. USD 8531 ± 10,709, P 0.001) both increased. The total medical cost for the PS group increased significantly between 2007 and 2016 in Korea (USD 24,428,560 vs. USD 81,044,196, P 0.001). In contrast, the total medical cost for the TS group decreased between 2007 and 2016 in Korea (USD 8,573,038 vs. USD 4,879,520, P 0.001).This nationwide study shows that the total medical cost of PS has increased and that the total medical cost of TS has decreased between 2007 and 2016 in Korea.

Self-assembly of silver(I) hexafluorophosphate with unique Y-type tridentate ligands (2,6-bis[(2-picolinoyloxy-5-methylphenyl)methyl]-p-tolylpicolinate (o-L), 2-nicotinoyloxy- (m-L), and 2-isonicotinoyloxy- (p-L)) produces single crystals consisting of 1D loop-and-chain coordination polymers of [Ag(o-L)](PF6)·Me2CO·CHCl3, [Ag(m-L)](PF6)·Me2CO, and [Ag3(p-L)2](PF6)3·2H2O·2C2H5OH·4CH2Cl2 with quite different trigonal prismatic, trigonal, and linear silver(I) coordination geometry, respectively. Coordinating ability of the three ligands for AgPF6 is in the order of p-L > o-L > m-L. The solvate molecules of [Ag(o-L)](PF6)·Me2CO·CHCl3 can be removed, and be replaced reversibly in the order of acetone ≫ chloroform ≈ dichloromethane ≫ benzene, without destruction of its skeleton.