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The elemental composition of cataract and non-cataract crystalline lenses was studied in this study. The study was carried out on Wistar rats (n = 30), two groups were formed: control and experimental. The animals of the experimental group were simulated age-related cataract using ultraviolet irradiation for 6 months. The sample collection of lenses was carried out after 2 (the early stages of cataract) and 6 months (the mature stages of cataract) of the experiment. The chemical composition of the samples was determined using by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The generation of reactive oxygen species under the action of ultraviolet radiation leads to a change in the permeability of cell membranes and, as a consequence, to a disturbance of homeostasis of elements. There is an imbalance of macronutrients in the lenses with the progress of cataract accompanying by an increase in the level of calcium and sodium and decrease in potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.

For heterogeneous integration, the heat cycle constraint limits the available number of options for the process of fabricating high-quality reliable high-k dielectrics, for example, post-deposition annealing and high-temperature deposition. To solve this problem, we examine the effects of H 2 O 2 /UV treatment on the reliability characteristics of low-temperature-grown HfO 2 via atomic layer deposition, wherein it is treated with a minimal post-deposition heat cycle. The leakage current and time zero dielectric breakdown characteristics of the H 2 O 2 /UV treated Hf02 are drastically improved without having applied the post-deposition heat cycle, compared with those of the control group that undergoes O 2 post-deposition annealing. The proposed process is a promising method to improve the quality of dielectrics for heterogeneous integration.

Lens opacity, which leads to cataract, is one of the most complicated issues in ophthalmology. Pathophysiology of cataract progression is far from being clearly established. Despite low lipid content in the lens of the eye, there is an assumption that they and their predecessors may be involved in the development of this disease. Given the many roles of monounsaturated fatty acids, it can be expected that variations in stearoyl-Coa desaturase activity will affect a number of key physiological processes.

Trace metals, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDTs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were quantified in surface sediments from mud depocenters located in the western South Atlantic upper continental margin. There was no anthropogenic trace metal pollution observed, and the higher As values were attributed to high CaCO3 content in the area. The results indicate PCB sources associated with long-range atmospheric transport in addition to past DDT use for agriculture and pest control. PAHs were mainly originated from biomass and fossil fuel combustion, and their distribution is in alignment with the riverine runoff influence in southern region, which is transported towards the northern regions by coastal currents. Higher concentrations of 2-3 ring PAHs and DDTs in shallow and northern stations indicate a coastal influence. This work presents baseline information on the extent of anthropogenic influence in mud depocenters located in the western South Atlantic upper continental margin, showing these locations as potential source to sink of anthropogenic contaminants.

Because of the poor prognosis and of oral mucosal melanoma, and patients' short survival, large, randomised, clinical studies are difficult. We have investigated its demographic characteristics and analysed the effect of treatment, resection margins, and metastases on survival. We recorded age, sex, site of primary tumour, and types of treatment, survival, and metastases in 74 patients treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Survival was analysed based on bony invasion, depth of invasion, and resection margins, and we found that it varied depending on the primary site (p=0.002), and declined with liver (p=0.001) or brain (p=0.033) metastases. The two-year survival according to the primary site was as follows: palate 85% (n=32), anterior maxillary gingiva 53% (n=13), mandible 58% (n=13), and posterior maxillary gingival 74% (n=10) and buccal mucosa 50% (n=4). The two-year survival was 34% (n=8) in patients with liver metastases and 23% (n=7) in patients with brain metastases. In cases of bony invasion (p=0.005), depth of invasion (p=0.042), unclear resection margin (p=0.023), or higher T stages (p=0.009), the survival declined considerably. Neck dissection did not affect survival (p=0.343). Survival of the patients given chemotherapy was significantly lower (p=0.013) and the two-year survival was 54.0%. The patients given radiotherapy showed no significant difference in survival compared with those not given radiotherapy (p=0.107). In conclusion, primary site, bony invasion, resection margins, depth of invasion and systemic metastases were critical to predict prognosis and selection of treatment of oral mucosal melanoma.

Although it has been established that diabetes increases susceptibility to infections, the role of insulin (INS) in the immune response is unknown. Here, we investigated the immunological function of INS. Proinsulin dimer (pINSd) was a potent immune stimulus that induced inflammatory cytokines, but mature INS was unable to induce an immune response. An affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against mature IL-1α recognized IL-1α and pINS but failed to detect mature INS and IL-1β. Analysis of the pINS sequence revealed the existence of an INS/IL-1α motif in the C-peptide of pINS. Surprisingly, the INS/IL-1α motif was recognized by monoclonal antibody raised against IL-1α. Deleting the INS/IL-1α motif in pINSd and IL-1α changed their activities. To investigate the pINSd receptor, the reconstitution of IL-1 receptor 1 (IL-1R1) in Wish cells restored pINSd activity that was reversed by an IL-1R antagonist. These data suggested that pINSd needs IL-1R1 for inflammatory cytokine induction. Mouse embryo fibroblast cells of IL-1R1-deficient mice further confirmed that pINSd promotes immune responses through IL-1R1.

Hot electrons and surface-plasmon-mediated surface chemistry have drawn much attention in the field of surface and interfacial chemistry because they are intrinsically associated with energy dissipation and conversion processes at the surface and at interfaces. In this chapter, we give an overview of the concept of hot-electron generation under various structural schemes, including Schottky diodes, and the role of hot electrons in the catalytic activity of surface chemistry. We highlight recent studies on the relation between hot electrons and catalytic activity on metallic surfaces and discuss possible mechanisms for how hot electrons participate in chemical reactions.

The combustion characteristics of metal fiber burner fueled natural gas with tail gas produced from reforming process were analyzed on the point of flame stability and excess air conditions. Also, it was analyzed the effect of energy efficiency improvement due to decrease the fuel input in reforming system by using residue gases. As a results, it was confirmed that tail gas including hydrogen, CO and could be directly injected without any change of air control system in natural gas burner and also energy efficiency was increased up to 30% maintained stable combustion.

Continuous body temperature monitoring is useful and essential in diverse medical procedures such as infection onset detection, therapeutic hypothermia, circadian rhythm monitoring, sleep disorder assessment, and gynecological research. However, the existing thermometers are too invasive or intrusive to be applied to long-term body temperature monitoring. In our previous study, we invented the bi-medium deep body thermometer which can noninvasively and continuously monitor deep tissue temperature. And the ratio of thermal resistances expressed as K-value should be obtained to estimate body temperature with the thermometer and it can be different under various measurement environments. Although the device was proven to be useful through preliminary simulation test and small group of human study, the experimental environment was restrictive in our previous approach. In this study, a finite element simulation was executed to obtain the K-value and evaluate the accuracy of bi-medium thermometer under various measurement environments. In addition, K-value estimation equation was developed by analyzing the influence of 5 measurement environmental factors (medium length, medium height, tissue depth, blood perfusion rate, and ambient temperature) on K-value. The results revealed that the estimation accuracy of bi-medium deep body thermometer based on computer simulation was very high (RMSE < 0.003 o C) in various measurement envi- ronments. Also, bi-medium deep body thermometer based on K-value estimation equation showed relatively accurate results (RMSE < 0.3 o C) except for one case. Although the K-value estimation technology should be improved for more accurate body temperature estimation, the results of finite element simulation showed that bi-medium deep body thermometer could accurately measure various tissue temperatures under diverse environments.

Performance of DI diesel engine with high-pressure fuel injection equipment is directly related to its emission characteristics and fuel consumption. So, the electro-hydraulic injector for the common-rail injection system should be designed to meet the precise high fuel delivery control capability. Currently, most high pressure injector in use has a needle driven by the solenoid coil energy or the piezo actuator controlled by charge-discharge of output pulse current. In this study, macroscopic spray approaching method was applied under constant volume chamber to research the performance of three different injectors : solenoid, indirect-acting piezo and direct-acting piezo type for CR direct-injection. LED back illumination for Mie scattering was applied on the liquid spray visible of direct-acting piezo injector, including hydraulic-servo type solenoid and piezo-driven injectors. As main results, we found that a direct-acting piezo injector had better a spray tip penetration than hydraulic-servo injectors in spray visualization.

A structural analysis was carried out for a 60 N.m class flexible disk coupling. Flexible disk couplings are used to transmit power between two shafts. When a flexible coupling is used, some amount of misalignments such as angle of deviation and end play can be allowed in assembling the shafts. However, the maximum allowable misalignment should be decided to guarantee the fatigue life. In this study, the effect of the angle of deviation and end play on the maximum stress was investigated. From the analysis results, it was shown that the angle of deviation has a greater effect on the maximum stress than the end play. Furthermore, the dimensions of the disk plate were optimized to realize a better design. From the optimization, the maximum stress could be reduced by up to 5.2%.

Background. Alterations of erythrocyte membrane fatty acid (FA) composition play important roles in cellular function because they change the membrane microenvironment, including transmembrane receptors. The erythrocyte membrane oleic acid content is higher among patients with acute coronary syndrome and also in dialysis patients. However, available data are limited concerning erythrocyte membrane FA content in kidney transplant recipients (KTP). We sought to test the hypothesis that erythrocyte membrane FA content among KTP were different from those in dialysis patients. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 35 hemodialysis, 33 peritoneal dialysis 49 KTP, and 33 normal control subjects (CTL). Their erythrocyte membrane FA content were measured by gas chromatography. Results. The mean ages of the enrolled dialysis patients, KTP, and CTL were 56.4 10.1, 48.9 10.4, and 49.5 8.3 years, respectively. Mean kidney transplant duration was 89.8 64.8 months and mean dialysis duration, 49.0 32.6 months. The intakes of vegetable lipid and vegetable protein including total calories were significantly increased among KTP versus dialysis patients. Total cholesterol (P .001) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL; P .001) levels were significantly higher and C-reactive protein was significantly lower among KTP compared with dialysis patients. The erythrocyte membrane content of palmitoleic acid (P .001) was significantly higher but oleic acid (P .001) significantly lower in KTP compared with dialysis patients. The erythrocyte membrane contents of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly higher, and linoleic acid and the omega-6 FA to omega-3 FA ratio (P .001) significantly lower in KTP compared with dialysis patients. The erythrocyte membrane content of oleic acid was independently associated with monounsaturated fatty acid (beta 0.771, P.001), eicosapentaeonic acid (beta0.244, P.010), and HDL (beta 0.139, P .049) in KTP. Conclusions. FA contents of erythrocyte membranes were significantly different in KTP compared with dialysis patients. These differences may have been associated with improved dietary intake and immunosuppression after kidney transplantation.

Aim To analyse the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with atresia of the coronary sinus orifice (CSA). Materials and methods MDCT findings of 15 consecutive adult patients with CSAs were retrospectively analysed. The patients underwent contrast-enhanced electrocardiography-gated MDCT ( n = 13) or both CT and MRI ( n = 2). Results The mean size of the coronary sinus (CS) was 14.2 mm (range 5.5–24 mm) and 11 patients (73.3%) showed CS dilatation (diameter ≥12 mm). The mean length of the atretic CS segment was 2.9 mm (range 0–8 mm). Different forms of venous collateral pathways were observed in the CSA patients. Nine (60%) of the 15 CSA patients had communication between the right atrium (RA; n = 6) or LA ( n = 5) and CS via intraseptal veins; six patients (40%) had persistent left superior caval veins; communications were also observed between the CS and RA ( n = 4) or LA ( n = 4); two patients had collateral venous pathways between dilated cardiac veins with RA; two patients had unroofing of the CS as outlet channels. Nine patients (60%) had cardiac anomalies: coronary artery fistula to the pulmonary artery ( n = 6) or left ventricular base and CS ( n = 1), atrial septal defects ( n = 2), and a ventricular septal defect ( n = 1). Conclusion CSA patients have venous collateral pathways and a high incidence of associated cardiovascular anomalies such as coronary artery fistulae and atrial septal defects.

It has been reported that fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) do not act only as intracellular mediators of lipid responses but also have extracellular functions. This study aimed to investigate whether extracellular liver type (L)-FABP has a biological activity and to determined serum L-FABP levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We isolated L-FABP complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) from the Huh7 human hepatocarcinoma cell line and expressed the recombinant L-FABP protein in Escherichia coli. A549 lung carcinoma and THP-1 monocytic cells were stimulated with the human recombinant L-FABP. Human whole blood cells were also treated with the human recombinant L-FABP or interleukin (IL)-1α. IL-6 levels were measured in cell culture supernatants using IL-6 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Human recombinant L-FABP induced IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner in A549, THP-1 cells, and whole blood cells. The blood samples of healthy volunteers and patients with ESRD were taken after an overnight fast. The serum levels of L-FABP in healthy volunteers and ESRD patients were quantified with L-FABP ELISA. The values of L-FABP in patients with ESRD were significantly lower than those in the control group. Our results demonstrated the biological activity of L-FABP in human cells suggesting L-FABP can be a mediator of inflammation.

Chirp sub-bottom profiler (SBP) provides the high-resolution seismic sections with a decimeter scale vertical resolution and are used in various geophysical and geological studies. We conducted a pseudo 3D Chirp SBP survey to produce a 3D Chirp SBP seismic volume for an ancient wooden shipwreck in Mado, Taean Peninsula, Korea. The survey lines were designed to cross the shipwreck at 2-m intervals in the 30 × 250-m survey area. To improve the quality of Chirp SBP data, we used a newly constructed recording system that could record the raw data. An optimal processing sequence divided in 2D and 3D data processing was specifically designed to create a 3D Chirp SBP volume from a pseudo 3D Chirp SBP dataset. The final 3D Chirp SBP volume shows the amplitude variation of the shipwreck traces.

10nm logic technology using Si FinFET is developed for low power and high performance applications. Power-speed gain of 27% compared to 14nm technology node was obtained using four key developments: 1) advanced gate stack engineering enabling 4 multi-Vt devices, 2) 3rd generation Fin technology, 3) highly doped source/drain (S/D), and 4) contact resistance optimization. CVD liner for BEOL process was also applied for better metal fill capability. Finally yield of the smallest ever SRAM with 0.04um2 SRAM bit-cell size was demonstrated.

In this study, a process design method for the multi-pass shape drawing is proposed with consideration of the drawing stress. First, the shape drawing load was calculated to evaluate the shape drawing stress, and the intermediate die shape was determined by using an electric field analysis and the average reduction ratio. In order to evaluate whether material yielding occurs at the die exit, the drawing stress was determined by using the calculated shape drawing load. Finally, FE-analysis and shape drawing experiments were conducted to validate the design of the multi-pass shape drawing process. From the results of the FE-analysis and shape drawing experiments, it was possible to produce a sound shape drawn product with the designed process. The dimensional tolerances of the product were within the allowable tolerances.

NeFeB anisotropy bonded magnet has proposed a new paradigm of weight reduction of small motors by replacing the conventional ferrite permanent magnets with its high magnetic property of 25 MGOe during last five years. It has also advanced by leaps and bounds in the field of motor industry for automobiles and electric power tools. And it has led a new innovation of fifty percent weight lightening compared to its current motors by correctly focusing on fuel performance improvement through weight lightening that automobile industry chased. There was, however, another price skyrocketing in 2011 after China had announced its export regulation in rare earth materials in July, 2010. And this price change has an extensive impact on the industries that consume rare earth magnets. This environmental change has caused technical challenge to improve the performance by using least amount of rare earth elements in NdFeB anisotropy bonded magnets, and led to make a new technical approach to a new applied field. In this article, we will show how each nation deals with this industrial issue, and introduce development trend and application of anisotropic NdFeB bonded magnets, so-called MAGFINE made by Aichi Steel Corp.

Protein phosphorylation is an important mechanism for the posttranslational modulation of ionotropic glutamate receptors and is subject to regulation by changing synaptic inputs. In this study, we investigated the regulation of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptor GluR1 subunit phosphorylation by cocaine exposure in the rat dorsal striatum in vivo. We found that acute cocaine challenge followed by 6 days of repeated systemic injections of cocaine (20 mg/kg once daily) enhanced the sensitivity of the GluR1 subunit in its phosphorylation at serine 831 (Ser831) in the dorsal striatum. This enhancement of the sensitivity of Ser831 phosphorylation was reduced, at the receptor and ion channel level, by blocking (1) group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), (2) N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, and (3) L-type voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels. Similar reduction of the enhancement was also induced, at the protein kinase level, by inhibiting (1) protein kinase C, (2) calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, and (3) c-Jun N-terminal kinases. In addition, inhibition of protein phosphatase 1/2A or calcineurin increased GluR1-Ser831 phosphorylation in the dorsal striatum of normal rats, whereas inhibition of these phosphatases did not further enhance the Ser831 phosphorylation in rats pretreated with 7 daily injections of cocaine. These data suggest that the phosphorylation of AMPA receptor GluR1 subunits at Ser831 is subject to upregulation by acute and repeated cocaine administration. Complex signaling integrations among glutamate receptors, Ca(2+) channels, protein kinases, and protein phosphatases participate in this upregulation.

Diabetes mellitus is a most serious and chronic disease whose incidence rates are increasing with incidences of obesity and aging of the general population over the world. One therapeutic approach for decreasing postprandial hyperglycemia is to retard absorption of glucose by inhibition of alpha-glucosidase. Two bromophenols, 2,4,6-tribromophenol and 2,4-dibromophenol, were purified from the red alga Grateloupia elliptica. IC(50) values of 2,4,6-tribromophenol and 2,4-dibromophenol were 60.3 and 110.4 microM against Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-glucosidase, and 130.3 and 230.3 microM against Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-glucosidase, respectively. In addition, both mildly inhibited rat-intestinal sucrase (IC(50) of 4.2 and 3.6mM) and rat-intestinal maltase (IC(50) of 5.0 and 4.8mM). Therefore, bromophenols of G. elliptica have potential as natural nutraceuticals to prevent diabetes mellitus because of their high alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

This study is about the underlying conjugation mechanism between carbon nanotube and biomolecule by molecular dynamics. In order to know about the conjugation mechanism between carbon nanotube and biomolecule, molecular dynamics simulation between carbon nanotube and water molecules was taken first and then molecular dynamics simulation between biomolecules and water molecules was taken. At simulation between carbon nanotube and water molecules, kinetic energy and potential energy became decreased with time and it means that the distance between carbon nanotube and water molecules becomes distant with time by van der Waals force and hydrophobic force. Simulation results between biomolecules and water molecules are also same as the results of carbon nanotube and water molecules simulation. From these two simulations, the conjugation mechanism between carbon nanotube and biomolecules can be predicted. Also, from simulation results between carbon nanotube and biomolecules, the distance between carbon nanotube and biomolecules becames close and it supports previous two simulation results. From these results, we can know that biomolecules enter into the carbon nanotube's cavity because of van der Waals force and hydrophobic force.

The physicochemical properties of squid skin collagens and biological activity of their enzymatic hydrolysates were determined to produce more value-added materials. The amino acid compositions of the inner and outer squid skin collagens were similar, but distinct from that of bovine tendon collagen in respect to the higher levels of aspartic acid, arginine, threonine, and serine, and of the lower levels of alanine, proline, and hydroxyproline. SDS-PAGE patterns suggested that squid skin collagen consisted of at least 2 different polypeptides (alpha1 and alpha2 chains) and their cross-linked chains. The molecular weights of alpha1 and alpha2 chains of bovine tendon collagens were higher than those of the corresponding alpha1 and alpha2 chains of squid skin collagens. The denaturation temperatures of inner and outer skin collagens were 27.1 and 27.3 degrees C, respectively, which were about 9 degrees C lower than that of bovine tendon collagen. Water holding capacities of inner and outer squid skin collagens were relatively similar, but were significantly greater than that of bovine tendon collagen. The maximum hydrolysis of squid skin collagens was obtained as follows: for outer skin collagen, enzyme concentration, 3.5%; hydrolysis time, 83 min; pH 7.0; hydrolysis temperature, 60 degrees C, whereas for inner skin collagen, enzyme concentration, 3.2%; hydrolysis time, 83 min; pH 7.0; hydrolysis temperature, 60 degrees C. The enzymatic hydrolysates of outer and inner skin collagens were separated by Sephacryl S-100 column, resulting in the production of 3 fractions (F1, F2, and F3). F3 fraction exhibited higher antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and antielastase activities than the other fractions.

대향 타겟식 스퍼터링법 (Facing Targets Sputtering)을 이용하여 유리기판위에 증착한 Ag/ZnO 다층 박막의 특성을 연구하였다. Ag 박막의 높은 전도도와 투과율을 나타내는 공정조건을 찾기 위하여, 증착시간, 기판온도 변화에 따른 Ag박막의 특성을 살펴보았으며, ZnO 박막의 두께 변화에 따른 Ag/ZnO 다층박막의 특성을 살펴보았다, 10초간 증착한 Ag 박막은 연속된 막구조를 가지지 못하여, 30초간 증착된 막에 비해 전기적, 광학적 특성이 저하되는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. ZnO 박막의 AFM 측정 결과 박막의 거칠기(Rrms) 값의 변화에 따라 Ag/ZnO박막의 특성에 영향을 미쳤으며, 거칠지 않은 표면을 지닌 박막에서 Ag 박막 증착 시 좋은 특성을 나타냈다. 제작된 박막은 four point probe, UV/VIS spectrometer, AFM을 사용하여 전기적, 광학적, 구조적 특성을 조사하였다. 제작결과 Ag/ZnO 다층박막의 면저항은 9.25 [Ω/sq.]을 나타내었으며, 가시광영역에서 광투과율은 80%이상을 나타내었다.

Background This study compared the changes in plasma oxytocin, intraoperative hemodynamics and postoperative uterine activity in patients who underwent elective Shirodkar cerclage for cervical incompetence with general or spinal anesthesia. Methods Thirty-seven singleton pregnant patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, controlled comparison of general (n=17) and spinal anesthesia (n=20) for elective Shirodkar suture in the second trimester. Plasma oxytocin concentration was measured before, 1 h after, and 24 h after the procedure. Uterine activity was recorded by external tocography twice daily for 30 min over a three-day period. Results Plasma oxytocin concentration did not change significantly after cerclage in either group. There were no significant differences between the two groups at any time. None of the patients reported painful contractions during study period. Two (11.8%) and four patients (20.0%) in the general and spinal groups, respectively (NS), showed increased uterine activity but these symptoms disappeared without treatment. The systolic blood pressure in the spinal group was significantly lower after anesthesia compared with the baseline and was significantly lower than in the general group during the procedure. Conclusions Anesthetic method used for elective Shirodkar procedure did not affect the perioperative changes in plasma oxytocin nor postoperative uterine activity.

In this study, we tried to find rules between mRNA sequences of Homo sapiens histamine receptors H1, H2, H3 and H4 with data mining algorithms, namely Apriori and Decision tree. In the Apriori algorithm, we split sequences into 5, 7 and 9 windows. The results showed a strong relationship between the H1 and H4 receptors, and also between the H2 and H3 receptors. The receptors were divided into two groups according to their components. Additionally, we would leave relevancy between the H2 and H3 receptors for another study with a different data mining algorithm. In the case of the H1 and H4 receptors, we found that amino acid “F(phenylalanine)” would be a standard to classify the H1 and H4 receptors. We suggest that H4 could be a mutated form of H1. To support our hypothesis, we conducted an additional experiment with the Decision Tree algorithm, focusing on the existence of amino acid “F”. The data showed the difference between the H1 and H4 receptors. In conclusion, the H4 and H1 receptors are related to each other by mutation.