Search

Purpose: To evaluate the level of agreement between ANTERION (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), OA-2000 (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan), and IOLMaster 500 (Carl Zeiss AG, Jena, Germany).Methods: Fifty-one eyes of 51 patients were included in the study. Flat keratometry (K) and steep K, vector component of astigmatism (Jackson cross-cylinder at 0° and 90° [J0] and Jackson cross-cylinder at 45° and 135° [J45]), anterior chamber depth, and axial length were compared using the three devices. Repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to compare the mean values of the biometrics. Pearson correlation test was conducted to analyze the correlations of the measured values, and a Bland-Altman plot was used to assess the agreement between the three devices. The predicted intraocular lens power of each device was compared to the others using the SRK/T, Haigis, Barrett Universal II, and Kane formulas.Results: All K values measured using ANTERION were flatter than those of other instruments. However, good agreement was observed for flat K (ANTERION - OA-2000; 95% limits of agreement [LoA], 0.86 diopters [D]) and steep K (ANTERION - OA2000; 95% LoA, 0.93 D) and OA-2000 - IOLMaster 500 (95% LoA, 0.93 D). J0 and J45 vector components of astigmatism were not statistically different; however, the agreements were poor between the devices (95% LoA ≥1.97 D). Anterior chamber depth values of ANTERION and OA-2000 were interchangeable (95% LoA, 0.15 mm). The axial length showed a high agreement (95% LoA ≤0.17 mm) among the three devices. The predicted intraocular lens powers of the three devices were not interchangeable regardless of formulas (95% LoA ≥1.04 D).Conclusions: Significant differences in ocular biometrics were observed between ANTERION and the other two devices. This study demonstrated that only axial length showed good agreement among devices.

To evaluate changes in ocular surface indices and tear cytokines after cataract surgery in type 2 diabetic patients.Ocular surface indices and concentrations of tear cytokines (MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF) were evaluated at baseline and one week and one month postoperatively.Patients (30 diabetic and 30 control) were enrolled. In the diabetic group, changes in ocular symptom and tear breakup time remained until one month postoperatively (Diabetic patients can experience more prominent changes after surgery and these changes were accompanied by an increase of several tear cytokines.

Temporal variations in excess nitrate (DINxs) relative to dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) were evaluated using datasets derived from repeated measurements along meridional and zonal transects in the upper (200–600 m) North Atlantic (NAtl) between the 1980s and 2010s. The analysis revealed that the DINxs trend in the western NAtl differed from that in the eastern NAtl. In the western NAtl, which has been subject to atmospheric nitrogen deposition (AND) from the USA, the subsurface DINxs concentrations have increased over the last 2 decades. This increase was associated with the increase in AND measured along the US East Coast, with a mean lag period of 15 years. This time lag was approximately equivalent to the time elapsed since the subsurface waters in the western NAtl were last in contact with the atmosphere (the ventilation age), suggesting a major role for a physical mechanism in transporting the AND signals to the subsurface. Our finding provides evidence that the DINxs dynamics in the western NAtl in recent years has been affected by anthropogenic nitrogen inputs, although this influence is weak relative to that in the western North Pacific. In contrast, a decreasing trend in subsurface DINxs was observed after the 2000s in the eastern NAtl, particularly in the high latitudes. This finding was not associated with the comparable decrease in AND from Europe. Other natural processes (a possible decline in tropical N2 fixation and weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation) may be responsible, but lack of time-resolved data on N2 fixation and meridional circulation is an impediment to assessment of these processes. Our results highlight the importance of both anthropogenic and natural forcing in impacting the nutrient dynamics in the upper NAtl.

A Gram-stain-negative, obligately aerobic bacterium, designated strain B6T, was isolated from rice wine vinegar in the Republic of Korea. Cells were non-motile and oval short rods showing catalase-positive and oxidase-negative activities. Growth was observed at 15–45 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 3.5–8.0 (optimum, pH 5.5–6.5). Strain B6T contained summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), and C16 : 0 as major fatty acids and ubiquinone-9 was identified as the sole isoprenoid quinone. The G+C content of the genomic DNA calculated from the whole genome was 53.1 mol%. Strain B6T was most closely related to Acetobacter pasteurianus LMG 1262T with very high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (100 %) and the strains formed a very close phylogenetic lineage together in phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. However, relatedness analyses based on concatenated amino acid sequences of 354 core genes and whole-cell MALDI-TOF profiles showed that strain B6T may form a distinct phyletic lineage from Acetobacter species. In addition, average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain B6T and the type strains of Acetobacter species were less than 93.3 and 51.4 %, respectively. The genomic features of strain B6T were also differentiated from those of closely related Acetobacter type strains. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic features, strain B6T clearly represents a novel species of the genus Acetobacter , for which the name Acetobacter oryzoeni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B6T (=KACC 21201T=JCM 33371T).

Obesity is a common comorbid condition in adult asthmatics and known as a feature of asthma severity. However, the molecular mechanism under obesity-induced inflammation has not yet been fully understood.Considering the essential role of hydrophobic surfactant protein B (SP-B) in lung function, SP-B was targeted to examine its involvement in the development of obesity-induced airway inflammation in asthmatics.The aim was to examine an alteration in circulating SP-B according to obesity in adult asthmatics, 129 asthmatics were enrolled and classified into 3 groups (obese, overweight and normal-weight groups) according to body mass index (BMI). Circulating SP-B levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms of SFTPB gene were genotyped. Serum ceramide levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Significantly lower serum SP-B levels were noted in the obese group than in the overweight or normal-weight group (p = .002). The serum SP-B level was significantly correlated with serum levels of C18:0 ceramide and transforming growth factor beta 1 as well as BMI (r = -0.200; r = -0.215; r = -0.332, p .050 for all). An inverse correlation was noted between serum SP-B and fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels in female asthmatics (r = -0.287, p = .009). Genetic predisposition of the SFTPB gene at 9306 AG to the obese and overweight groups was noted.Obesity altered ceramide metabolism leading to pulmonary surfactant dysfunction and impaired resolution of airway inflammation, finally contributing to the phenotypes of obese asthmatics.

Quang Luu Quoc,1 Ji-Young Moon,1 Dong-Hyun Lee,1 Ga-Young Ban,2 Seung-Hyun Kim,3 Hae-Sim Park1 1Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea; 2Department of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine Institute for Life Sciences, Chuncheon, South Korea; 3Translational Research Laboratory for Inflammatory Disease, Clinical Trial Center, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, South KoreaCorrespondence: Seung-Hyun KimTranslational Research Laboratory for Inflammatory Disease, Clinical Trial Center, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, South Korea, Tel +82 31-219-4264, Fax +82 31-219-4265, Email kimsh@ajou.ac.krHae-Sim ParkDepartment of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 206 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea, Tel +82 31-219-5000, Fax +82 31-219-6380, Email hspark@ajou.ac.krBackground: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by the predominant infiltration of inflammatory cells in the airways. Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/C–C motif chemokine 17 (TARC/CCL17) is a chemokine responsible for trafficking T helper 2 cells into sites of allergic inflammation.Objective: To validate the role of TARC in association with clinical and inflammatory parameters in adult asthmatics.Methods: We enrolled 128 asthmatic patients and 70 healthy controls (HCs). Asthma-related clinical and laboratory parameters, including lung function and eosinophil counts, were measured. Serum levels of TARC, free immunoglobulin E (IgE), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; serum total IgE level was measured using ImmunoCAP. The levels of inflammatory lipid mediators, such as leukotriene E4 (LTE4), 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Results: Serum TARC levels are significantly higher in asthmatics than in HCs and in allergic asthmatics than in HCs (P < 0.010 for all), with significantly negative correlations between serum TARC levels and FEV1%/MMEF% values (r = − 0.314, r = − 0.268, P < 0.050 for both). The patients with higher serum TARC levels had higher levels of serum total and free IgE levels (P < 0.050 for both) with positive correlations to serum levels of EDN, TXB2, and 15-HETE (r = 0.233, r = 0.264, and r = 0.223, respectively, P < 0.050 for all).Conclusion: We suggest the role of TARC in allergic asthma via contributing to mast cell and eosinophilic inflammation.Keywords: asthma, allergic asthma, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, IgE, T cells, mast cells, eosinophils

Gang bonding process (GBP) using thermal compression bonder (TCB) is being developed recently as a means to massively stack multi chips. However, the GBP using the TCB has a difficulty in misalignment of stacked chips due to the difference in thermal expansion rate on the bonding head and the top surface of the chip. To overcome this problem, we have developed a facility for gang bonding without misalignment by thermal expansion of overhead. For bonding between chip and chip, non-conductive film (NCF) was used for the test vehicle. To achieve good quality bonding, wetting should occur on solder bumps and pads that connect chips and chips. For this, the NCF film must reach the lowest viscosity before solder bump melt and when the solder bump melts before the NCF cured. In addition to curing behavior between NCF and solder bump, press strength and time are also the core of the process. Therefore, a more detailed process for GBP is required than the existing process of the TCB method in the past. The design the optimal process for GBP only by experiment is timing-consuming and expensive. Therefore, we simulated the curing behavior of NCF and designed the customized process of the GBP. Firstly, the curing behavior of NCF was measured using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cure-kinetics was analyzed by building Kamal's model. Secondly, the viscosity behavior of NCF was measured using Rheometer and rheokineics was analyzed by constructing Macosko's model. Through this built model, NCF behavior was predicted during the gang manufacturing process using GBP and a suitable process was designed. We could find the optimal process through D.O.E in the designed process, and we checked the perfect wetting between solder bump and pad and the proper gap height between chip and chip.

A cyclodextrin-decorated gold nanosatellite (AuNSL) substrate was developed as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensor for the selective sensing of bipyridylium pesticides such as paraquat (PQ), diquat (DQ), and difenzoquat (DIF). The AuNSL structure was fabricated via vacuum deposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on a gold nanopillar substrate, and a large density of hot-spots was formed for Raman signal enhancement. Thiolated β-cyclodextrin (SH-CD) was surface-modified on the AuNSL as a chemical receptor. The detection limit of PQ, DQ, and DIF on the SH-CD-coated AuNSL (CD-AuNSL) was 0.05 ppm for each, and showed linear correlation in a concentration range of 10 ppm-0.05 ppm. Then, selective bipyridylium pesticide detection was performed by comparing the Raman intensity of each pesticide with and without the washing step. After the washing step, 90% of the PQ, DQ, and DIF Raman signals were maintained on the CD-AuNSL substrate with a uniform selectivity in a mapping area of 200 μm × 200 μm. Furthermore, selective pesticide detection was performed using a ground-apple solution without pretreatment. Raman signals were clearly observed after the washing step and they showed a limit of detection down to a concentration of 0.05 ppm for each pesticide. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the binary and ternary mixtures of PQ, DQ, and DIF showed that each component could be easily identified via the typical Raman fingerprint analysis. The developed CD-AuNSL is expected to be applied for various chemical sensors, especially for pyridine-containing toxic substances in the environment and metabolite biomarkers in biofluids.

The identification of microorganisms in closely related groups is challenging. The present work focused on the different molecular methodology for the accurate microbial identification in the five commercially available organic agriculture materials enriched with effective microorganisms. From the tested five organic agricultural materials, a total of seven distinct bacterial colonies (A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, E-1, E-2, and E-3) were isolated and processed for sequential identification utilizing HiCrome&trade, Bacillus agar, biochemical tests with API CHB50, 16S rRNA gene analysis, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and species-specific PCR analysis. All the isolated microorganisms were Gram-positive rods and spore former belonging to Bacillus group and appeared as a differential characteristic feature on HiCrome&trade, Bacillus agar. All isolates showed high-percentage similarities with the different members of Bacillus species in biochemical testing and 16S rRNA gene analysis. The collective identification results revealed isolates, A-1, B-1, and C-1, close to B. velezensis. Further RAPD-PCR and species-specific PCR discriminated and provided confirmatory evidence for D-1 as B. thuringiensis and E-1, E-2, and E-3 as B. licheniformis, respectively. In addition, presence of B. thuringiensis was also confirmed by toxin crystal protein staining. In conclusion, the species-specific primers could be used as a rapid and accurate identification tool to discriminate closely related Bacillus species such as B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, and B. thuringiensis.

Nicotine is an alkaloid and a secondary plant metabolite that has been used as an insecticide. Despite their widespread application, the EU banned the use of nicotine-containing pesticides in December 2008. However, studies in Europe have found nicotine in mushrooms. Nicotine has also been detected in wild mushrooms, so there are other causes of contamination as well as pesticide. This study reports the development of GC-MS method for quantitatively analysing nicotine in mushrooms. This method provides recoveries of 89.5-92.5%, intra-day precisions of 0.32-0.85%, and inter-day precisions of 0.73-2.36%, with limits of detection and quantification of 0.38 and 1.15 μg kg-1, respectively. The relative expanded uncertainty result of 2.8-4.0% complies with CODEX requirements. The method was successfully applied to eleven mushroom samples in which nicotine was detected at levels of 0.033-1.713 mg kg-1. Therefore, this method is suitable for the quantification of nicotine in dried mushrooms to ensure pre-emptive food safety.

Phthalates are one of the most commonly used endocrine disruptors and have been considered a risk factor for respiratory disease including asthma. However, it is not yet known how they are related to urticaria. We investigated the association between phthalate exposure and urticaria in 10 healthy controls and 20 adult patients with active urticaria. The urinary levels of mono

Background Tricuspid regurgitation is treated by valve repair or replacement. However, these methods have limitations, and alternative treatment methods are therefore required. Objectives In this study, a new method of tricuspid valve treatment using artificial membrane insertion is analyzed. We performed tricuspid valve simulations using an artificial membrane inserted into the right ventricle (RV) or right atrium (RA). Methods We use the lattice Boltzmann method with the immersed boundary condition to model the structural motion of the valve leaflet. The effect of membrane insertion is analyzed in terms of the stress, force, and impulse on the valve leaflet, along with the velocity, pressure, jet volume, and Reynolds stress in the flow field. Results While the use of either membrane (RA or RV) leads to improved valve closure relative to the use of no membrane, the RV membrane is more effective than the RA membrane in achieving improved valve closure. In addition, a larger membrane area with a shorter distance between the leaflet and membrane increases membrane efficacy. Conclusion Our results suggest that membrane insertion can form an effective new method for the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation.

The role of friction in non-colloidal suspensions is examined with a model which splits the viscosity into a frictionless component (τ*) plus a frictional component which depends on the ratio of the particle pressure (P) to the shear stress (τ). The model needs the input by computation of τ* and P and a suitable choice of particle friction coefficient (μ). It can be extended to elongational flows and cases where sphere roughness is important; volume fractions up to 0.5 are considered. It is shown that friction acts in a feedback or “bootstrap” manner to increase the suspension viscosity. The analysis is also useful for deducing the friction coefficient in suspensions from experimental data. It was applied to several sets of experimental data and reasonable correlations of the viscosities were demonstrated. An example of the correlation for spheres in a silicone oil is shown for volume fractions 0.1–0.5.