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Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) following sudden acceleration and deceleration can lead to cognitive function decline. Various treatments have been proposed. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive stimulation technique, is a potential treatment for enhancing neuroplasticity in cases of brain injury. The therapeutic efficacy of rTMS on cognitive function remains unconfirmed. This study investigated the effects of rTMS and the underlying molecular biomechanisms using a rat model of DAI. Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 18) were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving rTMS after DAI and the other without brain stimulation. All rats were subjected to sudden acceleration and deceleration using a DAI modeling machine to induce damage. MRI was performed to confirm the DAI lesion. The experimental group received rTMS at a frequency of 1 Hz over the frontal cortex for 10 min daily for five days. To assess spatial memory, we conducted the Morris water maze (MWM) test one day post-brain damage and one day after the five-day intervention. A video tracking system recorded the escape latency. After post-MWM tests, all rats were euthanized, and their brain tissues, particularly from the hippocampus, were collected for immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses. The escape latency showed no difference on the MWM test after DAI, but a significant difference was observed after rTMS between the two groups. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses indicated increased expression of BDNF, VEGF, and MAP2 in the hippocampal brain tissue of the DAI-T group. In conclusion, rTMS improved cognitive function in the DAI rat model. The increased expression of BDNF, VEGF, and MAP2 in the DAI-T group supports the potential use of rTMS in treating cognitive impairments associated with DAI.

Prolonged squatting is a well-documented cause of common peroneal neuropathy, wherein the common peroneal nerve is thought to be compressed between the biceps femoris tendon and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle or the fibular head. However, deep peroneal neuropathy resulting from prolonged squatting has not been previously reported. We present the case of a tile installer who developed unilateral deep peroneal neuropathy following extended squatting, diagnosed through ultrasonography, which identified the bilateral division of the common peroneal nerves between the knee joint and the fibular head. This case underscores the value of ultrasonography, particularly when electrodiagnostic results are inconsistent with clinical expectations.

Abstract Gaseous and particulate 21 PAHs were monitored at a residential site in Ulsan, South Korea, over three seasons (December 2013–August 2014). The mean concentrations of Σ21 PAHs were highest in winter (16.2 ± 8.2 ng/m3), followed by spring (8.37 ± 4.53 ng/m3) and summer (6.23 ± 2.53 ng/m3). The mean gaseous concentration of Σ21 PAHs (7.39 ± 4.39 ng/m3) was 2.7 times higher than that of particulate PAHs (2.70 ± 3.38 ng/m3). To identify the sources of PAHs (both types of sources and their areas), diagnostic ratios, principal component analysis, and concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) were used. The results showed that pyrogenic sources (e.g., coal combustion) were the primary emission sources of PAHs in winter and spring. In summer, the influence of both coal and heavy oil combustion was dominant, suggesting that PAHs could be transported from industrial areas of Ulsan (e.g., petrochemical and nonferrous industrial complexes) by seasonal winds. Regarding emission source areas, the CWT analysis revealed that in winter and spring, PAHs in Ulsan could be attributed to emissions from regional areas, e.g., China and North Korea. The PAH concentrations were also used to assess the health risks associated with the inhalation of these compounds for adults aged 18–70. The results showed that the cancer risks from Σ19 PAHs and Σ13 PAHs did not exceed the guideline set by the US EPA (10−6), indicating no cancer risks for this target group. However, it is worth noting that certain PAHs, which are not listed as priority PAHs by the US EPA, make significant contributions to the benzo[a]pyrene equivalent and the associated cancer risks. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate not only the priority PAHs but also other PAH species to fully evaluate their effect on human health.

Background The classification of nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) has evolved according to histology, cell-of-origin, and genetic alterations. However, the comprehensive expression pattern of follicular helper T-cell (Tfh) markers, T-cell factor-1 (TCF1), and Th1-and Th2-like molecules in nodal PTCL is unclear. Methods Eighty-two cases of nodal PTCL were classified into 53 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas (AITLs)/nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma (nTFHL)-AI, 18 PTCLs-Tfh/nTFHL–not otherwise specified (NOS), and 11 PTCLs-NOS according to the revised 4th/5th World Health Organization classifications. Immunohistochemistry for TCF1, TBX21, CXCR3, GATA3, and CCR4 was performed. Results TCF1 was highly expressed in up to 68% of patients with nTFHL but also in 44% of patients with PTCL-NOS (p > .05). CXCR3 expression was higher in AITLs than in non-AITLs (p = .035), whereas GATA3 expression was higher in non-AITL than in AITL (p = .007) and in PTCL-Tfh compared to AITL (p = .010). Of the cases, 70% of AITL, 44% of PTCLTfh/nTFHL-NOS, and 36% of PTCL-NOS were subclassified as the TBX21 subtype; and 15% of AITL, 38% of PTCL-Tfh/nTFHL-NOS, and 36% of PTCL-NOS were subclassified as the GATA3 subtype. The others were an unclassified subtype. CCR4 expression was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with PTCL-Tfh (p < .001) and nTFHL (p = .023). The GATA3 subtype showed poor overall survival in PTCL-NOS compared to TBX21 (p = .046) and tended to be associated with poor PFS in patients with non-AITL (p = .054). Conclusions The TBX21 subtype was more prevalent than the GATA3 subtype in AITL. The GATA3 subtype was associated with poor prognosis in patients with non-AITL and PTCL-NOS.

We analyzed the possible effects of recent sea surface temperature (SST) warming on the extraordinary East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) precipitation in 2020 summer. The dynamic and thermodynamic impacts of SST are examined by conducting regional climate model experiments with observed SST and cold SST where the 22-year SST trend is removed. In the presence of warm SST, precipitation increases in low latitudes but decreases in the EASM region. This dipolar precipitation change pattern opposes the precipitation anomalies in 2020 summer, indicating that the extraordinary 2020 EASM precipitation is not likely driven by recent SST warming. The warm SST suppresses the western North Pacific subtropical high expansion and weakens the southwesterly from the South China Sea toward the EASM region. In terms of large-scale atmospheric circulations, SST-induced wind changes strengthen the local Walker circulation in the South China Sea and the Philippines and the local Hadley circulation across the EASM region. These support the reduced EASM rainfall in the control experiment compared to the cold SST experiment and imply that the precipitation reduction by dynamical effects could exceed the precipitation increase by thermodynamic effects in the EASM region under warm SST.

Background/Objectives: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a primary factor in skin photoaging, leading to wrinkles, reduced elasticity, and pigmentation changes due to damage to cellular DNA, proteins, and lipids. Glycoproteins from sesame cake (SPE) have potential protective effects against UV-induced skin aging. This study investigated the anti-photoaging effects of SPE on UV-induced damage in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells and SKH-1 hairless mice. Methods: SPE was evaluated for its ability to mitigate UV-induced damage in HaCaT cells by assessing MMP-1 protein and mRNA expression levels, as well as the activity of transcription factors AP-1 and NF-κB. The phosphorylation of AKT and MAPK pathways was also analyzed. In vivo, SKH-1 hairless mice were exposed to UV radiation, and the effects of SPE on wrinkle formation and skin structure were assessed by measuring wrinkle length, area, and volume. Results: SPE significantly inhibited UV-induced MMP-1 protein and mRNA expression in HaCaT cells, indicating suppression of AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factors involved in MMP-1 production. Additionally, SPE reduced UV-induced phosphorylation of AKT and MAPK pathways. In SKH-1 hairless mice, SPE treatment led to significant reductions in wrinkle length, area, and volume, preserving skin structure in UV-exposed mice. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that SPE has protective effects against UV-induced photoaging by inhibiting key molecular pathways associated with skin aging. SPE shows promise as a natural anti-photoaging agent, providing a foundation for future skincare product development. Further studies are warranted to explore the molecular mechanisms in detail and to validate these effects through clinical trials.

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), which are resistant to corrosion, are used as reinforcement material for concrete. However, the flexural behavior of concrete members reinforced with FRPs can vary depending on the properties of FRPs. In this study, the flexural behavior of one-way concrete slab specimens reinforced with a new grid-type carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) (carbon grid) manufactured by bonding pultruded CFRP strands to an adhesive was investigated. The experimental results indicated differences in the load–deflection relationships of the specimens depending on the carbon grid reinforcement amount. Specimens in which the carbon grids were over-reinforced or reinforced close to the balanced reinforcement ratio reached the maximum load due to concrete crushing and exhibited ductile failure. The specimen under-reinforced with the carbon grid exhibited brittle failure. Specimens with carbon grid reinforcement close to a balanced reinforcement ratio exhibited maximum loads ranging from 0.43 to 0.61 times the calculated flexural strength, which resulted in becoming 0.86–1.00 lower in the specimens with a wider width of the CFRP strands. This study proposes coefficients to estimate the stiffness of carbon-grid-reinforced concrete flexural members after cracking. Applying these coefficients resulted in stiffness calculations that reasonably simulated the behavior of the specimens reinforced with carbon grids after crack formation.

This study aims to investigate the effect of the laser beam overlap rate on the mechanical properties of Al3003 aluminum alloy arc weldment with laser peening. To determine the optimal laser beam overlap rate for laser peening of the weldment, peening experiments were conducted on bead-welded and butt-welded specimens with varying overlap rates, and the effect of the beam overlap rate was analyzed. As the overlap rate increased, the residual stress changed from tensile to compressive, with the highest level of compressive residual stress at the overlap rate of 75%. Laser peening was performed on the aluminum weldment of the prototype, applying the optimal peening conditions identified earlier. As a result of comparing the residual stress, hardness, and tensile strength of the weld before and after laser peening, it was found that the tensile residual stress in the weldment was improved to a compressive residual stress of about −50 MPa or more. The hardness and tensile strength of the weld increased after peening, and the mechanical properties were also improved.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of bile acid homeostasis and is involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Although FXR agonists effectively alleviate pathological features of NASH, adverse effects such as disturbance of cholesterol homeostasis and occurrence of pruritus remain to be addressed. Here, we identified a novel FXR agonist, ID119031166 (ID166), and explored the pharmacological benefits of ID166 in the treatment of NASH. ID166, a potent and selective non-bile acid FXR agonist, exhibits preferential distribution in the intestine and shows no agonist activity against potential itch receptors including Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X4 (MRGPRX4). Interestingly, ID166 significantly attenuated total nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity and liver fibrosis in a free choice diet-induced NASH hamster model. In addition, ID166 drastically modulated the relative abundance of five gut microbes and reduced the increase in plasma total bile acid levels to normal levels in NASH hamsters. Moreover, long-term treatment with ID166 significantly improved key histological features of NASH and liver fibrosis in a diet-induced NASH mouse model. In the NASH mouse livers, RNA-seq analysis revealed that ID166 reduced the gene expression changes associated with both NASH and liver fibrosis. Notably, ID166 exhibited no substantial effects on scratching behavior and serum IL-31 levels in mice. Our findings suggest that ID166, a novel FXR agonist with improved pharmacological properties, provides a preclinical basis to optimize clinical benefits for NASH drug development.

Abstract When medical genetic syndromes are influenced by allelic hierarchies, mutant alleles have distinct effects on clinical phenotypes. Genotype–phenotype correlations for Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2) suggest that the USH2A gene exhibits an allelic hierarchy. Here, we analyzed the phenotypes and genotypes of 16 South Korean patients with USH2A biallelic variants to investigate an allelic hierarchy from audiological and ophthalmological perspectives. Using whole exome and genome sequencing, 18 mutant alleles, including 4 novel alleles, were identified and implicated in USH2A-related disorders. Truncated alleles were linked to earlier onset of subjective hearing loss and more severe thresholds; biallelic truncated alleles had more severe effects. Truncated alleles were also associated with retinal structure degeneration and severe functional deterioration. However, younger patients (aged

Abstract Background Academic performance is an important issue for Korean students. Various psychological factors contribute to academic performance. We aimed to evaluate the psychological factors that affect academic performance integratively. Methods A total of 102 academic high achievers and 120 comparison participants were recruited. We evaluated psychological factors (test anxiety, perfectionism, personality traits, resilience, and self-efficacy) and measured academic performance using the College Scholastic Ability Test and the current college grade. We compared psychological factors and academic performance between the academic high achiever and comparison groups. Multiple linear regression was then conducted to identify the significant psychological factors for high academic performance. Further, we used cluster analysis to classify the comparison group by the significant psychological factors and compared them among clusters and academic high achievers to determine the psychological characteristics of academic high achievers. Results The academic high achiever group showed lower test anxiety (p = .002), less neuroticism (p = .001), higher self-efficacy (p = .028), and less socially prescribed perfectionism (p

Abstract We investigated the relationship between foveal avascular zone (FAZ)-related parameters, assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), and visual field (VF) progression in early-stage open-angle glaucoma (OAG) eyes with central visual field (CVF) defects. Early-stage glaucoma eyes [VF mean deviation (MD) ≥ − 6 dB] with CVF defects were included. The rates of longitudinal change in FAZ-related parameters and structural parameters were evaluated and compared between VF progressors and non-progressors, using linear mixed effects models. Cox proportional hazards model and linear regression models were used to identify factors associated with VF progression, the VF MD reduction rate and the change rate of mean total deviation in central 12 VF points (MTD10). A total of 131 eyes were included and VF progression was detected in 32 eyes (24.4%) during 3.45 years of follow-up. The rates of reduction in vessel density in the 300 µm width annular region surrounding the FAZ (FD300) and macular ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer thickness (mGCIPLT) were significantly faster in progressors than in non-progressors. The faster VF MD or MTD10 reduction rates were associated with faster rates of FD300 loss and mGCIPLT reduction. The FD300 reduction rate is significantly associated with VF progression in early-stage OAG eyes with CVF defects. FD300 may be an adjunctive biomarker of VF progression in glaucomatous eyes with CVF defects.

Abstract Background Children with physical or brain disabilities experience several functional impairments and declining health complications that must be considered for adequate medical support. This study investigated the current medical service utilization of children expressing physical or brain disabilities in South Korea by analyzing medical visits, expenses, and comorbidities. Methods We used a database linked to the National Rehabilitation Center of South Korea to extract information on medical services utilized by children with physical or brain disabilities, the number of children with a disability, medical visits for each child, medical expenses per visit, total medical treatment cost, copayments by age group, condition severity, and disability type. Results Brain disorder comorbidities significantly differed between those with mild and severe disabilities. Visits per child, total medical treatment cost, and copayments were higher in children with severe physical disabilities; however, medical expenses per visit were lower than those with mild disabilities. These parameters were higher in children with severe brain disabilities than in mild cases. Total medical expenses incurred by newborns to three-year-old children with physical disorders were highest due to increased visits per child. However, medical expenses per visit were highest for children aged 13–18. Conclusion Medical service utilization varied by age, condition severity, and disability type. Severe cases and older children with potentially fatal comorbidities required additional economic support. Therefore, a healthcare delivery system for children with disabilities should be established to set affordable medical costs and provide comprehensive medical services based on disability type and severity.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a therapeutic tool for improving post-stroke gait disturbances, with ongoing research focusing on specific protocols for its application. We evaluated the feasibility of a rehabilitation protocol that combines tDCS with conventional gait training. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, single-center pilot clinical trial. Patients with unilateral hemiplegia due to ischemic stroke were randomly assigned to either the tDCS with gait training group or the sham stimulation group. The anodal tDCS electrode was placed on the tibialis anterior area of the precentral gyrus while gait training proceeded. Interventions were administered 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Outcome assessments, using the 10-meter walk test, Timed Up and Go test, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Ambulatory Scale, Modified Barthel Index, and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version, were conducted before and after the intervention and again at the 8-week mark following its completion. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons between and within groups. Results: Twenty-six patients were assessed for eligibility, and 20 were enrolled and randomized. No significant differences were observed between the tDCS with gait training group and the sham stimulation group in gait speed after the intervention. However, the tDCS with gait training group showed significant improvement in balance performance in both within-group and between-group comparisons. In the subgroup analysis of patients with elicited motor-evoked potentials, comfortable pace gait speed improved in the tDCS with gait training group. No serious adverse events occurred throughout the study. Conclusions: Simultaneous anodal tDCS during gait training is a feasible rehabilitation protocol for chronic stroke patients with gait disturbances. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://cris.nih.go.kr; Registration number: KCT0007601; Date of registration: 11 July 2022.

Regular exercise improves several functions, including cognition, in patients with stroke. However, the effect of regular exercise on neurogenesis related to cognition remains doubtful. We investigated the most effective exercise intensity for functional recovery after stroke using RNA sequencing following regular treadmill exercise. Photothrombotic cerebral infarction was conducted for 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 36). A Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed before a regular treadmill exercise program (5 days/week, 4 weeks). Rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A (no exercise); group B (low intensity, maximal velocity 18 m/min); group C (moderate intensity, maximal velocity 24 m/min) and group D (high intensity, maximal velocity 30 m/min). After 4 weeks, another MWM test was performed, and all rats were sacrificed. RNA sequencing was performed with ipsilesional hippocampal tissue. On the day after cerebral infarction, no differences in escape latency and velocity were observed among the groups. At 4 weeks after cerebral infarction, the escape latencies in groups B, C, and D were shorter than in group A. The escape latencies in groups B and C were shorter than in group D. The velocity in groups A, B, and C was faster than in group D. Thirty gene symbols related to neurogenesis were detected (p < 0.05, fold change > 1.0, average normalized read count > four times). In the neurotrophin-signaling pathway, the CHK gene was upregulated, and the NF-κB gene was downregulated in the low-intensity group. The CHK and NF-κB genes were both downregulated in the moderate-intensity group. The Raf and IRAK genes were downregulated in the high-intensity group. Western blot analysis showed that NF-κB expression was lowest in the moderate-intensity group, whereas CHK and Raf were elevated, and IRAK was decreased in the high-intensity group. Moderate-intensity exercise may contribute to neuroplasticity. Variation in the expression of neurotrophins in neurogenesis according to exercise intensity may reveal the mechanism of neuroplasticity. Thus, NF-κB is the key neurotrophin for neurogenesis related to exercise intensity.

The survival rate of children admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth is on the increase; hence, proper evaluation and care of their neurodevelopment has become an important issue. Neurodevelopmental assessments of individual domains regarding motor, language, cognition, and sensory perception are crucial in planning prompt interventions for neonates requiring immediate support and rehabilitation treatment. These assessments are essential for identifying areas of weakness and designing targeted interventions to improve future functional outcomes and the quality of lives for both the infants and their families. However, initial stratification of risk to select those who are in danger of neurodevelopmental disorders is also important in terms of cost-effectiveness. Efficient and robust functional evaluations to recognize early signs of developmental disorders will help NICU graduates receive interventions and enhance functional capabilities if needed. Several age-dependent, domain-specific neurodevelopmental assessment tools are available; therefore, this review summarizes the characteristics of these tools and aims to develop multidimensional, standardized, and regular follow-up plans for NICU graduates in Korea.

Background Information on the long‐term prognosis in patients with isolated thalamic stroke is sparse. We report the functional outcomes of patients with thalamic stroke up to 24 months from the KOSCO (Korean Stroke Cohort for Functioning and Rehabilitation) study. Methods and Results Isolated thalamic stroke was defined as the presence of lesions solely in the thalamus, excluding cases with lesions in other brain parenchyma areas apart from the thalamus, as identified by brain magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans. The Fugl‐Meyer Assessment, the Functional Ambulatory Category, the Korean Mini‐Mental State Examination, the American Speech‐Language‐Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System Swallowing Scale, and the short version of the Korean Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test were used to assess physical impairment. The Functional Independence Measure and modified Rankin Scale were used to assess functional outcomes. All measurements were conducted up to 24 months poststroke. A total of 297 patients were included, consisting of 235 with ischemic and 62 with hemorrhagic stroke. Except for the Functional Ambulatory Category and Functional Independence Measure, all physical impairments showed significant improvement up to 3 months poststroke (P

Introduction: Serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels have been shown to be strongly associated with MRI markers of cerebral small vessel disease, cognitive deficits, and disability in cross-sectional studies of patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal changes in serum NfL levels and their correlation with disease progression in patients with CADASIL. Methods: We prospectively enrolled a group of CADASIL patients and assessed their clinical symptoms, cognitive function, brain MRI, and serum NfL levels at baseline and after a three-year follow-up. We measured cortical thickness, white matter hyperintensity volume, number of lacunar infarctions, and number of cerebral microbleeds on brain MRI. Global cognitive function was evaluated using the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery dementia version (SNSB-D), with a maximum score of 300. We used linear mixed-effects models to investigate associations between changes in serum NfL levels and changes in cognitive function and MRI markers. Results: At baseline, we examined 59 CADASIL patients between October 2018 and August 2019, and 51 patients completed the three-year follow-up, including clinical assessment, brain MRI, and serum NfL measurement. At baseline, the log-transformed serum NfL level showed significant correlations with age, glomerular filtration rate, SNSB-D score, and cortical thickness (Figure 1). During the three-year follow-up, there was a significant increase in mean serum NfL levels (19.04 ± 1.90 pg/ml vs. 30.84 ± 3.41 pg/ml, P

Neutrophils are primed for neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation during diabetes, and excessive NET formation from primed neutrophils compromises wound healing in patients with diabetes. Here, we demonstrate that trained immunity mediates diabetes-induced NET priming in neutrophils. Under diabetic conditions, neutrophils exhibit robust metabolic reprogramming comprising enhanced glycolysis via the pentose phosphate pathway and fatty acid oxidation, which result in the accumulation of acetyl-coenzyme A. Adenosine 5′-triphosphate-citrate lyase-mediated accumulation of acetyl-coenzyme A and histone acetyltransferases further induce the acetylation of lysine residues on histone 3 (AcH3K9, AcH3K14, and AcH3K27) and histone 4 (AcH4K8). The pharmacological inhibition of adenosine 5′-triphosphate-citrate lyase and histone acetyltransferases completely inhibited high-glucose-induced NET priming. The trained immunity of neutrophils was further confirmed in neutrophils isolated from patients with diabetes. Our findings suggest that trained immunity mediates functional changes in neutrophils in diabetic environments, and targeting neutrophil-trained immunity may be a potential therapeutic target for controlling inflammatory complications of diabetes.

Abstract Concentrations of ambient particulate matter (such as PM2.5 and PM10) have come to represent a serious environmental problem worldwide, causing many deaths and economic losses. Because of the detrimental effects of PM2.5 on human health, many countries and international organizations have developed and operated regional and global short-term PM2.5 prediction systems. The short-term predictability of PM2.5 (and PM10) is determined by two main factors: the performance of the air quality model and the precision of the initial states. While specifically focusing on the latter factor, this study attempts to demonstrate how information from classical ground observation networks, a state-of-the-art geostationary (GEO) satellite sensor, and an advanced air quality modeling system can be synergistically combined to improve short-term PM2.5 predictability over South Korea. Such a synergistic combination of information can effectively overcome the major obstacle of scarcity of information, which frequently occurs in PM2.5 prediction systems using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-borne observations. This study first presents that the scarcity of information is mainly associated with cloud masking, sun-glint effect, and ill-location of satellite-borne data, and it then demonstrates that an advanced air quality modeling system equipped with synergistically-combined information can achieve substantially improved performances, producing enhancements of approximately 10%, 19%, 29%, and 10% in the predictability of PM2.5 over South Korea in terms of index of agreement (IOA), correlation coefficient (R), mean biases (MB), and hit rate (HR), respectively, compared to PM2.5 prediction systems using only LEO satellite-derived observations.

Abstract Identifying the clinical relevance of superficial versus deep layer macular vessel density (mVD) in glaucoma is important for monitoring glaucoma patients. Our current retrospective longitudinal study investigated the association of superficial and deep layer mVD parameters with glaucomatous visual field (VF) progression in mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma (OAG) eyes with central visual field (CVF) damage. Serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography-derived mVD measurements were obtained in 182 mild to moderate OAG eyes (mean deviation ≥ -10 decibels). Forty-eight eyes (26.4%) showed VF progression during a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. The parafoveal and perifoveal mVDs of both superficial and deep layers showed significantly faster reduction rates in the VF progressors than in the non-progressors according to linear mixed effects models (P

Long-term changes in caregiver burden should be clarified considering that extended post-stroke disability can increase caregiver stress. We assessed long-term changes in caregiver burden severity and its predictors. This study was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Stroke Cohort for Functioning and Rehabilitation. Patients with an acute first-ever stroke were enrolled from August 2012 to May 2015. Data were collected at 6 months and 6 years after stroke onset. The caregiver burden was measured with a subjective caregiver burden questionnaire based on the Korean version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory. The caregivers’ characteristics and patients’ clinical and functional status were also examined at each follow-up. A high caregiver burden, which suggests a risk of burnout, was reported by 37.9% and 51.7% of caregivers at 6 months and 6 years post-stroke, respectively. Both the caregiver burden total score and proportion of caregivers at risk of burnout did not decrease between 6 months and 6 years. The patients’ disability (OR = 11.60; 95% CI 1.58–85.08; p = 0.016), caregivers’ self-rated stress (OR = 0.03; 95% CI 0.00–0.47; p = 0.013), and caregivers’ quality of life (OR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.59–0.99; p = 0.042) were burden predictors at 6 months. At 6 years, only the patients’ disability (OR = 5.88; 95% CI 2.19–15.82; p < 0.001) and caregivers’ psychosocial stress (OR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.10–1.44; p = 0.001) showed significance. Nearly half of the caregivers were at risk of burnout, which lasted for 6 years after stroke onset. The patients’ disability and caregivers’ stress were burden predictors in both subacute and chronic phases of stroke. The findings suggest that consistent interventions, such as emotional support or counseling on stress relief strategies for caregivers of stroke survivors, may reduce caregiver burden. Further research is needed to establish specific strategies appropriate for Korean caregivers to alleviate their burden in caring for stroke patients.

When establishing national climate change response policies, conflicts between various stakeholders may arise. Therefore, we need a collaborative climate change governance to coordinate stakeholders’ opinions. Many countries have formed and operated committee-type governance to respond to climate change. Climate change policies require long-term responses. However, the politicization of climate change issues results in rapid policy changes and policy discontinuities. In Korea, climate change policies are showing differences according to partisan polarization. Past conservative and liberal governments formed committees to respond to climate change. Conservative governments operated the Green Growth Committee, and liberal governments operated the Carbon Neutrality Committee. This study analyzed the impact of changes in the Korean political system on climate change governance. We examined whether the difference in political orientation between liberal and conservative governments affected climate change governance, and if not, what factors prevented the path from changing. No significantly different outcome was found between the governance of the conservative and the liberal governments in response to climate change. The cause was the “lock-in” of climate change policies in Korea. Specifically, the response to climate change in Korea has not changed significantly due to political, industrial, institutional, and diplomatic lock-in.

Mass loss from ice shelves occurs through ocean-driven melting regulated by dynamic and thermodynamic processes in sub-ice shelf cavities. However, the understanding of these oceanic processes is quite limited because of the scant observations under ice shelves. Here, a regional coupled sea-ice/ocean model that includes physical interactions between the ocean and the ice shelf is used as an alternative tool for exploring ocean-driven melting beneath the Nansen Ice Shelf (NIS) which is a cold-water cavity ice shelf located beside Terra Nova Bay (TNB) in East Antarctica. For the first time, this study identifies the spatiotemporal variability signatures for different modes of ocean-driven melting at the base of NIS. In February (austral summer), basal melting substantially increases where the ice shelf draft is relatively small in the vicinity of the ice shelf front, contributing 78% of the total NIS melting rate. As the dominant source of NIS mass loss, this melting is driven by tide-induced turbulent mixing along the sloping ice shelf base and summer warm surface water intruding beneath and reaching the shallow parts of the ice shelf. In contrast, the NIS has relatively high basal melting rates near the grounding line in September (austral winter) primarily because of the intrusion of high-salinity shelf water produced by polynya activity in TNB that flows into the cavity beneath NIS toward the deep grounding line. Of the total melting rate of NIS in winter, 36% comes from regions near the grounding line. In addition, the contributions of tides and realistic cavity geometry to NIS basal melting are identified by conducting sensitivity experiments. Tidal effects increase the melting of NIS throughout the year, particularly contributing as much as 30% to the areas of ice draft shallower than 200 m in summer. Sensitivity results for uncertainty in cavity geometry show that spurious vertical mixing can be locally induced and enhanced by interaction between tides and the unrealistic topography, resulting in excessive basal melting near the NIS frontal band. The sensitivity experiments have shown that tides and realistic cavity geometry bring a significant improvement in the estimation of basal melt rates through a numerical model.

The telecommunications sector has experienced enormous advances with technological evolution, and various alternatives for technology development toward 5G technologies have been proposed. To achieve effective research and development (R&D) management, these alternatives should be evaluated. Although cost–benefit analysis, which can help facilitate a technology with the most benefits and the least costs, is generally applied, technology related to public goods should consider both market and nonmarket perspectives. Since many telecommunications technologies have social impacts as well as market profitability, e.g., 5G, the economic feasibility analysis of such technologies needs to apply market and nonmarket approaches. Therefore, this paper presents an R&D impact analysis based on particular usage scenarios that reflect the characteristics of a telecommunications technology. We investigate how the target technology will be employed in a product or service, what costs and benefits the technology will produce, and what methods can be used to measure the costs and benefits. First, scenarios are constructed to identify different types of benefits while avoiding overlaps between them. Detailed guidelines are developed to link the most appropriate methods among various economic-feasibility analyses to assess costs and benefits for each usage scenario. Then, the proposed framework is applied to the case of 5G low-latency technology used in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and validated. The case study findings indicate that the framework is useful in converting the direct and indirect benefits of telecommunications technology into a single economic value and is thus expected to be employed in technology evaluation.

Abstract This paper investigates the effects of Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) adoption on the country-level reduction rate of carbon emission. We first used Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) tests to group countries into three categories: inverse U-shaped and gamma-shaped EKC for decoupled countries, and a positive linear EKC for non-decoupled countries. We then examined the effectiveness of ETS adoption. We found ETS was effective for both post-industrial and pre-industrial economies. Compared to countries that have not adopted ETS, the carbon emission reduction (increment) rate of decoupled (non-decoupled) countries that have adopted ETS is faster (slower). Furthermore, ETS adoption significantly reduces overall carbon emissions per capita compared to other global events, such as oil crises. The results imply that a market-based mechanism is an effective strategy for achieving sustainable development, thus, providing insights for policymakers and governments to design effective carbon neutrality policies to achieve sustainable development.

The spatiotemporal inhomogeneity of the total column NO2 amounts (TCN) in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), Korea, was quantitatively assessed through year-round (October 2019–May 2021) TROPOMI and ground-based Pandora measurements. The average TCN over the SMA was comparable to that of major Chinese megacities, being consistently high (> 0.8 DU; Dobson Unit) during the daytime (10–17 local standard time). The autocorrelation scores of the Pandora-measured TCNs demonstrated high temporal variability attributed to the spatial inhomogeneity of NO2 emissions within the SMA and near-surface advection. Accordingly, the adequate temporal collocation range for Pandora measurements for the intercomparison with the satellite sensors was considered to be ± 5 min to avoid significant uncertainty from the temporal variability (RMSE < 0.1 DU, R2 > 0.96). TROPOMI showed better agreement with conventionally collocated Pandora measurements (0.73

Abstract Identifying new biomarkers associated with central visual function impairment is important in advanced glaucoma patients. This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 154 eyes from 154 subjects, consisting of 86 patients with advanced open-angle glaucoma (mean deviation of 24-2 visual field [VF] tests

Abstract Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) interact closely with cancer cells to promote tumor development. Downregulation of SPIN90 in CAFs has been reported to facilitate breast cancer progression, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that miR-130b-3p directly downregulates SPIN90 in stromal fibroblasts, leading to their differentiation into CAFs. As the decrease of SPIN90 in CAFs was shown to be more prominent in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors in this study, miR-130b-3p was selected by bioinformatics analysis of data from patients with ER-positive breast cancer. Ectopic expression of miR-130b-3p in fibroblasts accelerated their differentiation to CAFs that promote cancer cell motility; this was associated with SPIN90 downregulation. We also found that miR-130b-3p was generated in luminal A-type cancer cells and activated fibroblasts after being secreted via exosomes from cancer cells. Finally, miR-130b-3p increased in SPIN90-downregulated tumor stroma of luminal A breast cancer patients and MCF7 cell-xenograft model mice. Our data demonstrate that miR-130b-3p is a key modulator that downregulates SPIN90 in breast CAFs. The inverse correlation between miR-130b-3p and SPIN90 in tumor stroma suggests that the miR-130b-3p/SPIN90 axis is clinically significant for CAF activation during breast cancer progression.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to cluster long-term multifaceted functional recovery patterns and to establish prediction models for functional outcome in first-time stroke patients using unsupervised machine learning.MethodsThis study is an interim analysis of the dataset from the Korean Stroke Cohort for Functioning and Rehabilitation (KOSCO), a long-term, prospective, multicenter cohort study of first-time stroke patients. The KOSCO screened 10,636 first-time stroke patients admitted to nine representative hospitals in Korea during a three-year recruitment period, and 7,858 patients agreed to enroll. Early clinical and demographic features of stroke patients and six multifaceted functional assessment scores measured from 7 days to 24 months after stroke onset were used as input variables. K-means clustering analysis was performed, and prediction models were generated and validated using machine learning.ResultsA total of 5,534 stroke patients (4,388 ischemic and 1,146 hemorrhagic; mean age 63·31 ± 12·86; 3,253 [58.78%] male) completed functional assessments 24 months after stroke onset. Through K-means clustering, ischemic stroke (IS) patients were clustered into five groups and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) patients into four groups. Each cluster had distinct clinical characteristics and functional recovery patterns. The final prediction models for IS and HS patients achieved relatively high prediction accuracies of 0.926 and 0.887, respectively.ConclusionsThe longitudinal, multi-dimensional, functional assessment data of first-time stroke patients were successfully clustered, and the prediction models showed relatively good accuracies. Early identification and prediction of long-term functional outcomes will help clinicians develop customized treatment strategies.

Abstract Background The study aim was to report the treatment outcomes of trochanteric flip osteotomy (TFO) with surgical hip dislocation (SHD) for femoral head fracture and dislocation (FHFD) and to investigate the risk factors for avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head. Methods The data of 34 patients (29 men, 5 women; mean age 37.9 years) diagnosed with FHFD and treated with TFO with SHD between May 2009 and February 2018 with an average follow-up period of 5.1 years (range 2.8–10.5 years) were analyzed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Merle d'Aubigné–Postel score and Thompson–Epstein Scale. Radiologic outcomes were classified according to the Matta classification. AVN was confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging or single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography. The occurrence of complications was examined, and factors influencing complications, AVN. Results Regarding the Pipkin’s classification, there were 7 patients with type II, 2 patients with type III, and 25 patients with type IV fractures. Posterior wall fractures accompanied all associated acetabular fractures in the patients with Pipkin type IV fractures. Radiologically, the union of acetabular and femoral head fractures was observed within 6.1 months on average (range 4–10 months) in 32 patients, except two patients who developed femoral head AVN. Clinically, the average Merle d'Aubigné–Postel score was 14.4 points (range 8–17 points), and 22 patients had good or excellent results on the Thompson–Epstein Scale. Two patients developed femoral head AVN with both having displaced femoral neck fractures associated with FHFD. AVN was significantly correlated with femoral neck fractures (P = 0.000). Conclusion TFO with SHD is a safe and useful approach for the treatment of FHFD. Particular attention should be paid when treating femoral head fractures associated with displaced femoral neck fractures because of the high risk of AVN development.

The prevalence of neurocognitive disorders (NCD) increases every year as the population continues to age, leading to significant global health concerns. Overcoming this challenge requires identifying biomarkers, risk factors, and effective therapeutic interventions that might provide meaningful clinical benefits. For Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the most studied NCD, approved drugs include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (rivastigmine, donepezil, and galantamine), an NMDA receptor antagonist (memantine), and antiamyloid monoclonal antibodies (aducanumab and lecanemab). These drugs offer limited relief, targeting singular pathological processes of the AD. Given the multifactorial nature of the NCDs, a poly-pharmacological strategy may lead to improved outcomes compared to the current standard of care. In this regard, phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors emerged as promising drug candidates for the treatment of neurocognitive disorders. These inhibitors increase cGMP levels and CREB signaling, thus enhancing learning, memory and neuroprotection, while reducing Aβ deposition, tau phosphorylation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. In the present article, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of different PDE5 inhibitors to outline their multifaceted impact in the NCDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The current guidelines for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) recommend that APN be diagnosed based on the clinical features and the presence of pyuria. However, we observed that some of the patients who are diagnosed with APN do not have characteristic clinical features or pyuria at the initial examination. We performed this study to investigate the characteristics of APN without pyuria. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 391 patients diagnosed with APN based on clinical and radiologic findings, between 2015 and 2019. The clinical features, laboratory results, and computed tomography (CT) findings were compared between patients with normal white blood cell (WBC) counts and those with abnormal WBC counts (WBC of 0–5/high power field [HPF] vs. >5/HPF) in urine. Results More than 50% of patients with APN had no typical urinary tract symptoms and one-third of them had no costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness. Eighty-eight patients (22.5%) had normal WBC counts (0–5/HPF) on urine microscopy. There was a negative correlation between pyuria (WBC of >5/HPF) and previous antibiotic use (odds ratio, 0.249; 95% confidence interval, 0.140–0.441; p

If a sequence indexed by nonnegative integers satisfies a linear recurrence without constant terms, one can extend the indices of the sequence to negative integers using the recurrence. Recently, Cigler and Krattenthaler showed that the negative version of the number of bounded Dyck paths is the number of bounded alternating sequences. In this paper, we provide two methods to compute the negative versions of sequences related to moments of orthogonal polynomials. We give a combinatorial model for the negative version of the number of bounded Motzkin paths. We also prove two conjectures of Cigler and Krattenthaler on reciprocity between determinants.

Abstract Developing an effective and efficient recycling process for marine debris (MD) is one of the most urgent issues to maintain environmental sustainability on Earth. However, restricted storage capacities and secondary pollution (e.g., microbial adhesion, putrefaction) limit the proper MD recycling. Here, we proposed a complete eco-friendly low-temperature MD pulverizing system that utilizes excessive liquefied natural gas (LNG) cold energy (LCE) in an LNG propulsion ship to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of MD recycling. The prototype design of the low-temperature pulverization (LTP) system showed that consumable refrigerant (liquid nitrogen) up to 2831 kg per hour could be substituted. Furthermore, with a 20% ship output, 1250 kg of MD could be treated with 363 kg of additional refrigerant. In addition, LTP systems utilizing LCE could increase the storage capacity by more than 10 times compared to bulk MD while minimizing the required energy consumption. To determine the feasibility of LTP for MD recycling, four types of plastics obtained from actual MD from a coastal area in Busan, Korea were classified and tested.

Background: Lunge exercises are lower extremity rehabilitation and strengthening exercises for patients and athletes. Most studies have shown the effectiveness of the forward and backward lunge exercises for treating patellofemoral pain and anterior cruciate ligament injuries (by increasing lower extremity muscle activity) and improving kinematics. Objects: However, it is not known how the two different lunge movements affect trunk muscle activities in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis and erector spinae muscles during forward and backward lunge exercises in healthy participants. Methods: Twelve healthy participants were recruited. Electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis and erector spinae was recorded using surface electrodes during forward and backward lunges, and subsequently normalized to the respective reference voluntary isometric contractions of each muscle. Results: Activity of the erector spinae was significantly higher than that of the rectus abdominis during all stages of the backward lunge (p < 0.05). The activity of the erector spinae was significantly greater during the backward than forward lunge at all stages (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Backward lunging is better able to enhance trunk motor control and activate the erector spinae muscles.

This study develops an aerosol data assimilation and forecast system using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) and the three-dimensional variational (3D-VAR) data assimilation method. The system assimilates the aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) satellite and surface particulate matter (PM) observations. The simulation domain covers Northeast Asia at 15 km horizontal resolution, and the assimilation and forecast skill is evaluated for the Korea–US Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) intensive observing period. Observing system experiments (OSEs) are conducted to examine the changes in quality of assimilation and forecast skills sensitive to the assimilated observational input data. The baseline model simulation underestimates AOD and surface PM concentration in most regions, in which the assimilation of satellite and in-situ data improves the mean biases and spatial distribution. Moreover, it improves the forecast skill of the surface concentration of PM10 and PM2.5. The results from the OSEs indicate that the assimilation of GOCI AOD only slightly enhances the forecast skill. However, most of the skill improvement comes from the surface PM assimilation, showing a practically useful level of skill until 12 hours from the initial state. The marginal improvement in the PM10 forecasts by the GOCI AOD suggests the non-negligible difference between column-representing AOD and the surface PM concentration.

In South Korea, both Sympetrum depressiusculum Sélys, 1841 (Odonata: Libellulidae), which is distributed throughout Europe and from Russia to the Korean Peninsula, and Sympetrum frequens Sélys, 1883, which is endemic to Japan, are recorded. However, the identity of South Korean populations and the validity of listing the two species have not yet been settled. In this study, we collected seventy-four individuals of Sympetrum species from South Korea (five localities), Russia, The Netherlands, and Japan. These samples were examined for morphology and sequenced for partial COI, 16S rRNA, and a nuclear internal spacer (ITS) region, after which these molecular data were combined with available public data from Russia, Japan, and The Netherlands. Major morphological characters that have been used to distinguish the two species and phylogenetic, network, and structure analyses all consistently suggest that South Korean populations form a single species. Consequently, it could be valid to treat South Korean populations as one species, S. depressiusculum, by applying the senior name. Nevertheless, the validity of maintaining each as an independent species in other countries may need additional study considering that our samples were focused more on South Korea and limited for Europe, Russia, and Japan.

Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been widely investigated as a reinforcement material to address the corrosion and durability issues of reinforced concrete (RC). To improve the strain of FRP grids, we investigated the effect of single-fiber types, hybrid ratios, and stacking patterns on the strain of the composite materials. Blended fabrics in which different fibers are woven were used to further improve the strain of carbon fibers (CFs). In the blended fabrics, CFs with high tensile strength were mixed with high-strain glass fibers (GFs) or aramid fibers (AFs). Fibers with different mechanical properties were mixed to improve the strain without reducing the tensile strength of the composite materials. The fiber arrangement direction was controlled by CF/GF blended fabric. CFs are arranged in the direction parallel to the tensile load direction with no strength degradation, and GFs are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the increase in strain. Compared to the mechanical properties of the single CF composites, the fabrics obtained via an FRP mixing method proposed in this study showed an increase in the tensile strength by 7% from 568.17 to 608.34 MPa with no strength degradation and an increase in strain by 34% from 0.97% to 1.30%.

This study shows that cloud seeding should be planned by considering the dam reservoir characteristics as well as the dam basin characteristics. First, the collection efficiency of increased rainfall by cloud seeding is compared for three dam basins (Boryeong Dam, Yongdam Dam, and Namgang Dam basins) located in the western part of the Korean Peninsula. Second, the additional runoff volumes in those three basins from cloud seeding are compared with each other. Finally, the change in water supply capacity is evaluated by considering the dam reservoir operation and planned water supply. In this study, cloud seeding is simulated using the WRF−ARW model, and, additionally, four different rainfall data generated by considering the scenarios of a rainfall increase of 5, 10, 15, and 20% are used for more practical evaluation. The results in this study show that the situation in Boryeong Dam basin is better than in the other two dam basins. More active cloud seeding is necessary in the Yongdam Dam and Namgang Dam basins. However, it has also been found that cloud seeding alone cannot solve the water supply problems in those two dam basins. The above findings also indicate that cloud seeding should be carefully planned. It can vary dam-by-dam. Cloud seeding might be effective every season in one dam, but only in Spring in another dam basin, while in other dams, summer or fall season might be the best option. The target increase of rainfall is also an important issue. Just a mild increase could be better in one dam, but it can be important to secure much more rainfall in other dams. Even though the three dams considered in this study are located in practically the same climatic zone, the conditions required for cloud seeding differ completely.

Abstract Background As a laboratory animal resource, the ICR mouse is commonly used in a variety of research fields. However, information on differences in exercise-related characteristics in ICR mice derived from different lineages and the underlying mechanisms remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the intrinsic exercise capacity and a magnitude of response to acute exercise, and sought to identify mechanisms contributing to difference in Korl:ICR (a novel ICR lineage recently established by the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Korea) and two commercialized ICR lineages derived from different origins (viz., A:ICR mouse from Orient Bio Com, the United States, and B:ICR mouse from Japan SLC Inc., Japan). Results Results showed that despite no significant difference in body weight and weight-proportioned tissue mass of heart and skeletal muscles among groups, the relatively low intrinsic exercise capacity and exaggerated response to acute exercise were identified in B:ICR comparted with Korl:ICR and A:ICR, as reflected by total work and lactate threshold (LT). Also, the mitochondrial efficiency expressed as the complex 1 and complex 1 + 2 respiratory control ratio (RCR) values for cardiac mitochondrial O2 consumption in B:ICR was significantly lower than that in Korl:ICR with higher level of state 2 respiration by glutamate/malate and UCP3 expression in cardiac muscle. Conclusions Taken together, these results indicate that the intrinsic exercise capacity of ICR mouse varies according to lineages, suggesting the role of cardiac mitochondrial coupling efficiency as a possible mechanism that might contribute to differences in the intrinsic exercise capacity and magnitude of response to exercise.

Abstract Since the South Korean government enacted the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), companies have been striving to simultaneously improve productivity and reduce carbon emissions, which represent conflicting goals. We used firm-level emissions and corporate variables to investigate how ETS enactment has affected carbon productivity, which is a firm-level revenue created per unit of carbon emission. Results showed that firm-level carbon productivity increased significantly under the ETS, and such a trend was more evident for high-emission industries. We also found that companies with high carbon productivity were (1) profitable, (2) innovative, and (3) managed by CEOs with experience in environmental fields. These findings suggest that to achieve the conflicting goals of increasing corporate profits while reducing emissions, firms have to invest in green technologies, and such decisions are supported by green leadership. Our findings also have implications for corporate leadership; data highlight the importance of managing human resources and deploying investment policies to respond to ETS.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Abstract The EOS is a medical imaging system that incorporates simultaneous orthogonal images, producing three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the whole skeletal system in various functional positions. Despite growing interest in the pelvic 3D position, the validity of the EOS has not yet been well studied. We investigated the trueness and precision of EOS imaging for pelvic parameters and orientation and assessed whether the measurement using the EOS was affected by the pelvic orientation itself. The orientation of the anterior pelvic plane and pelvic parameters of a custom-made pelvic phantom were measured by three raters using the EOS, and the measurements obtained were compared with the true values. The standard deviations of the measurement errors were 3.23°, 0.26°, 0.23°, 2.98°, 0.88°, and 3.22° for flexion, obliquity, rotation, pelvic incidence, spinopelvic tilt, and sacral slope, respectively. The root-mean square averages of the standard deviation of each measurement were 4.05°, 0.41°, 0.28°, 4.80°, 0.99°, and 5.13°, respectively. The measurement errors for sacral slope correlated significantly with geometric means of flexion, obliquity, and rotation (r = 0.364, p = 2.67 × 10–11). The EOS rendered accurate and reliable measurements regarding pelvic 3D position, even with positional variation, but positional variation could affect measurements of sacral slope.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-derived heterogeneous vesicles that mediate intercellular communications. They have recently been considered as ideal vehicles for drug-delivery systems, and immune cells are suggested as a potential source for drug-loaded EVs. In this study, we investigated the possibility of neutrophils as a source for drug-loaded EVs. Neutrophil-like differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia cells (dHL-60) produced massive amounts of EVs within 1 h. The dHL-60 cells are also easily loaded with various cargoes such as antibiotics (penicillin), anticancer drug (paclitaxel), chemoattractant (MCP-1), miRNA, and Cas9. The EVs derived from the dHL-60 cells showed efficient incorporation of these cargoes and significant effector functions, such as bactericidal activity, monocyte chemotaxis, and macrophage polarization. Our results suggest that neutrophils or neutrophil-like promyelocytic cells could be an attractive source for drug-delivery EVs.

Straddle fracture, a superior and inferior ramus fracture of both sides, is generally treated conservatively. However, posterior pelvic ring injury is often associated with straddle fracture, leading to unstable pelvic bone fracture that requires surgical treatment. The present study reports the clinical and radiological outcomes of straddle fracture with posterior pelvic ring injury.This study included 73 patients (41 men, 32 women) with a straddle fracture injury. The injury mechanism, injury severity score (ISS), accompanying injuries, presence of posterior pelvic ring injury, and fixation methods for the pelvic fracture were analyzed, and outcomes were evaluated functionally and radiologically.Of the 73 patients, 56 (77%) had a posterior pelvic ring injury and 7 died. In 43 patients, the posterior pelvic ring injuries constituted unstable pelvic injury and were treated surgically. The fixation method was determined based on the severity of the posterior pelvic injury. The patients’ mean ISS was 24.7 points. Radiological evaluation of surgical outcomes in 43 patients revealed the outcomes as anatomic in 20, nearly anatomic in 14, moderate in 5, and poor in 4, whereas functional evaluation revealed the outcomes as excellent in 21, good in 9, fair in 7, and poor in 6.Posterior pelvic ring fracture can accompany straddle fractures, which may lead to pelvic injury instability. Thus, special attention is required for patients with a straddle fracture.

Abstract Sepsis, one of the most fatal diseases in the world, is known to culminate in multiple organ failure due to an uncontrolled inflammatory response. Hence, the use of animal models in sepsis research is very important to study complex immune responses. The current study was undertaken to compare commercial stocks with KFDA stocks of DBA/2 mice as an animal model for sepsis study. To compare responses of DBA/2 mice to lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced sepsis, we measured altered characteristics of various factors associated with sepsis, including survival curves, organ failure and inflammatory response, in DBA/2Korl stock and two commercial stocks (DBA/2A and DBA/2B). Survival rates after LPS exposure were similar for DBA/2Korl and DBA/2B; however, for times over 20 h, survival rates were reduced and concentration dependent in DBA/2A. In order to evaluate multiple organ failure caused by sepsis, H&E stains were evaluated for liver and spleen tissues obtained in the early (2 h) and later (20 h) stages after exposure to LPS; no significant differences were observed between the three stocks. mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines were assessed for evaluating inflammatory reactions, and were found to increase in a dose-dependent manner in most DBA/2 mice after LPS treatment. However, no changes were observed in the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines at 20 h after LPS exposure in the DBA/2A stock. The induction of inflammation-mediated factors by LPS exposure did not induce alterations in the mRNA levels of COX-2 and iNOS in all three DBA/2 stocks. Our results indicate that response of DBA/2Korl to LPS-induced sepsis is similar to the two commercial DBA/2 stocks, thus representing its potential as a useful biological resource established in Korea.

This paper proposes a high frame rate analog front-end (AFE) IC combined with a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) for ultrasound imaging systems (UISs). The proposed AFE IC, which consists of 8-channel transceivers and a peripheral circuit, employs analog multi-line acquisition (AMLA) based on sub-array beamforming. This AMLA generates multiple scanlines during a scan time by simultaneously and precisely controlling the delay of the AFE IC, thus achieving the high frame rate of the AFE IC. The sensitivities of the PMUT for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves are simulated to be 67.5 kPa/V and 1.2 mV/kPa, respectively, which are high enough to mitigate the needs of the high-voltage electronics for UISs. The proposed AFE IC was fabricated using a 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ silicon-on-insulator process and occupies an active area of 2.56 mm $\times1.68$ mm. The measurement results using the simulated PMUT parameters show that the proposed AFE IC with the AMLA precisely controls its delay up to $1~\mu \text{s}$ at a clock frequency of 40 MHz. It also acquires more than 9,000 scan/s even at a focal depth of 150 mm, which is at least twice greater than those of prior works, achieving a high frame rate of 93 Hz when 100 scanlines are used for a frame. In addition, a figure-of-merit, which considers the energy consumption per channel/scan and the energy loss, is achieved to be 20 nJ/scan/dB at a focal depth of 150 mm and a center frequency of 3.6 MHz; this is the best result compared to previously reported works. Therefore, the proposed AFE IC is suitable for UISs requiring a high frame rate.