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Background and Objectives Preoperative assessment is one of the most important fields in surgery and anesthesia as it can reduce morbidity and mortality from surgery and detect abnormal findings not clinically observed through preoperative examination. However, excessive non-vital preoperative routine tests have been criticized. The aim of the study is to investigate the current use of elective preoperative evaluations using otorhinolaryngologic surgery covering patients of all ages with various levels of difficulty.Subjects and Method Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data, we investigated 98890 subjects who underwent otorhinolaryngologic surgery during the year 2018. We evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, medical institutions, and operation characteristics of the subjects and analyzed in detail their routine blood and urine test items, sonographic exams and pulmonary function tests.Results There were differences in the implementation of preoperative blood and urine tests, sonographic exams and pulmonary function tests according to sociodemographic characteristics, types and locations of medical institutions. Old age, low socioeconomic status, comorbid condition, high Charlson’s Comorbidity Index, tertiary hospital were the factors that increased preoperative evaluation tests.Conclusion Appropriate preoperative evaluation is needed for predicting and preparing for the possibility of treatment complications as well as improving treatment quality while reducing costs for perioperative management.

Densitometry analysis of the six chemokine array signals identified in Figure 1A was performed and normalized to the average intensity of 3 controls.

A. Close up views of the photomicrographs from Figure 4 show an association between the PC-3 cells and the wild type DRG neurites (Figure 4A), but fewer associations between the PC-3 cells and CCL2 -/- DRG neurites (Figure 4B). B. DRG's were harvested from wild type and CCL2 -/- mice and explanted in 15µl of growth-factor reduced Matrigel. Photographs were taken every other day. Neurite outgrowth rate was measured by measuring the area covered by the neurites and subtracting the center of the DRG (MetaMorph, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA).

A. A schematic of the DRG and cancer cell co-culture model depicts that cancer cells initially attach to DRG neurites. Over time, the cancer cells migrate along the neurites towards the DRG and also proliferate. B. Close up views of the photomicrographs from Figure 3 show an association between the shControl PC-3 cells and the DRG neurites (Figure 3A), but fewer associations between the shCCR-2 PC-3 cells and DRG neurites (Figure 3B).

PC-3 migration towards DRG as the attractant is reduced by the addition of anti-CCL2 neutralizing antibody at 10 μg/ml to the DRG. In contrast, the addition of non-specific rat IgG at 10 μg/ml shows no inhibitory effects (* p

Sciatic nerve invasion length based on MRI imaging depicted in Figure 5 was assessed for mice injected with shControl or shCCR2 PC-3 cells. Images showing a thickened sciatic nerve were selected and analyzed with ImageJ (* p

Anti-CCL2 treatment impairs IM recruitment and nerve invasion.

Tables contain information on the list of candidate genes screened from murine macrophages and clinical data on human pancreatic samples. This file contains 2 tables (Supplemental Tables 1 and 2).

Analysis of human prostate cancer and adenoid cystic carcinoma specimens demonstrates macrophage infiltration around the majority of invaded nerves. This file contains two supplemental figures (S10-S11).

Perineural invasion (PNI) is an ominous event strongly linked to poor clinical outcome. Cells residing within peripheral nerves collaborate with cancer cells to enable PNI, but the contributing conditions within the tumor microenvironment are not well understood. Here, we show that CCR2-expressing inflammatory monocytes (IM) are preferentially recruited to sites of PNI, where they differentiate into macrophages and potentiate nerve invasion through a cathepsin B–mediated process. A series of adoptive transfer experiments with genetically engineered donors and recipients demonstrated that IM recruitment to nerves was driven by CCL2 released from Schwann cells at the site of PNI, but not CCL7, an alternate ligand for CCR2. Interruption of either CCL2–CCR2 signaling or cathepsin B function significantly impaired PNI in vivo. Correlative studies in human specimens demonstrated that cathepsin B–producing macrophages were enriched in invaded nerves, which was associated with increased local tumor recurrence. These findings deepen our understanding of PNI pathogenesis and illuminate how PNI is driven in part by corruption of a nerve repair program. Further, they support the exploration of inhibiting IM recruitment and function as a targeted therapy for PNI. Cancer Res; 77(22); 6400–14. ©2017 AACR.

HHPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a DNA virus that can cause benign lesions, genitourinary cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer by penetrating the mucous membrane and skin. It is widely known to be transmitted mainly through sexual contact. As with many viral infections, vaccines have been developed to prevent infection with HPV. Currently, in many countries, HPV vaccines are mainly used for national immunization for women to prevent diseases that traditionally occur frequently in women, especially cervical cancer. However, since the vaccination rate is relatively low, many countries are struggling with ways to increase the vaccination rate. Meanwhile, the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer caused by HPV in men has been increasing recently. In the United States, the annual number of oropharyngeal cancers in men already exceeds the number of cervical cancers in women, so HPV infection in men has emerged as a major problem. Accordingly, interest in HPV vaccination in men has also increased, and studies on the effectiveness and necessity of vaccination of both women and men compared to women alone are being actively conducted. In this paper, the evidence of HPV vaccination for men will be reviewed through previous studies, and its validity and cost-effectiveness will be analyzed to bolster the clinical usefulness of HPV vaccination for men.

Background and Objectives This study aimed to investigate whether benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) accompanied by temporal bone fracture would be more resistant to canalith repositioning procedures (CRPs) than idiopathic BPPV.Subjects and Method Seventy-eight patients with BPPV were included in this study. Among them, 13 patients had temporal bone fractures and 65 had no temporal bone fractures. To identify the factors related to the number of CRPs performed until the remission of BPPV, sex, age, the presence of temporal bone fracture, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia or osteopenia, BPPV affected side, and the type of affected semicircular canal were analyzed using the univariable regression analysis. Thereafter, the multivariable regression analysis was performed using only the variables that had a p-value of 0.2 or less in the univariable analysis.Results In the univariable analysis, temporal bone fracture, diabetes mellitus, and BPPV side showed relatively significant association with the number of CRPs (pp=0.043, β=0.532, 95% CI: 0.017-1.046).Conclusion The major finding of this study is that BPPV, accompanied by temporal bone fracture, precipitated more resistance to CRPs than idiopathic BPPV did. Thus, patients with temporal bone fracture might need more intensive examination and treatment for BPPV than those without temporal bone fracture.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been attracting interest as a new radiation modality for cancer therapy because it can selectively destroy cancer cells while maintaining the healthy state of surrounding normal cells. Many experimental trials have demonstrated significant BNCT treatment efficacy using neutron beams from research reactors. However, nuclear reactor technology cannot be scaled to sites in hospitals delivering patient treatment. Therefore, compact accelerator-based neutron sources that could be installed in many hospitals are under development or have even been commissioned at many facilities around the world. In Korea, a radio-frequency (RF) linac-based BNCT (A-BNCT) facility is under development by DawonMedax (DM). It provides the highly efficient production of an epithermal neutron beam with an optimized neutron energy spectrum range of 0.1~10 keV. With a 2-mA 10-MeV proton beam from the accelerator, the irradiation port epithermal neutron flux is higher than 1 × 109 n/cm2⋅s. Comprehensive verification and validation of the system have been conducted with the measurement of both proton and neutron beam characteristics. Significant therapeutic effects from BNCT have been confirmed by DM in both in vitro and in vivo non-clinical trials. Further, during exposure to epithermal neutrons, all other unintended radiation is controlled to levels meeting International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommendations. Recently, the Korean FDA has accepted an investigational new drug (IND) and the first-in-human clinical trial of BNCT is now being prepared. This paper introduces the principles of BNCT and accelerator-based neutron sources for BNCT and reports the recent advances of DM A-BNCT facility which is the main part of this paper.

To assess the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for additional MR-detected enhancing lesions and to determine whether or not kinetic pattern results comparable to dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) of the breast can be obtained using the quantitative analysis of CEUS.In this single-center prospective study, a total of 71 additional MR-detected breast lesions were included. CEUS examination was performed, and lesions were categorized according to the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of CEUS were calculated by comparing the BI-RADS category to the final pathology results. The degree of agreement between CEUS and DCE-MRI kinetic patterns was evaluated using weighted kappa.On CEUS, 46 lesions were assigned as BI-RADS category 4B, 4C, or 5, while 25 lesions category 3 or 4A. The diagnostic performance of CEUS for enhancing lesions on DCE-MRI was excellent, with 84.9% sensitivity, 94.4% specificity, and 97.8% positive predictive value. A total of 57/71 (80%) lesions had correlating kinetic patterns and showed good agreement (weighted kappa = 0.66) between CEUS and DCE-MRI. Benign lesions showed excellent agreement (weighted kappa = 0.84), and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) showed good agreement (weighted kappa = 0.69).The diagnostic performance of CEUS for additional MR-detected breast lesions was excellent. Accurate kinetic pattern assessment, fairly comparable to DCE-MRI, can be obtained for benign and IDC lesions using CEUS.자기공명영상에서 추가적으로 발견된 조영증강 병소에 대한 조영증강 초음파의 진단 능력을 평가하고 조영증강 초음파의 정량 분석을 사용하여 유방 동적 조영증강 자기공명영상과 유사한 운동 패턴 결과를 얻을 수 있는지 분석하였다.단일 센터 전향적 연구로 진행하였고, 총 71개의 자기공명영상에서 추가적으로 발견된 조영증강 병소가 포함되었다. 이러한 병소에 대해 조영증강 초음파를 시행하였고 Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (이하 BI-RADS)에 따라 분류하였다. 그리고 모든 병소의 BI-RADS 분류를 조직학적 결과와 비교하여 조영증강 초음파의 민감도, 특이도 및 진단 정확도를 계산하였다. 조영증강 초음파와 동적 조영증강 자기공명영상의 운동 패턴 사이의 일치도는 가중 카파 분석을 사용하여 평가되었다.조영증강 초음파에서 총 46개의 병소가 BI-RADS 4B, 4C, 5로 분류되었고, 25개의 병소가 BI-RADS 3, 4A로 분류되었다. 자기공명영상에서 추가적으로 발견된 조영증강 병소에 대한 조영증강 초음파의 진단 능력은 84.9%의 민감도, 94.4%의 특이도 및 97.8%의 긍정적 예측값으로 우수하였다. 총 57/71 (80%) 병소는 조영증강 초음파와 동적 조영증강 자기공명영상 운동 패턴 결과가 일치하였고 가중 카파 값 0.66으로 좋은 일치도를 나타냈다. 부분 군 분석에서 양성 병소는 우수한 일치를 보였고(가중 카파 값 = 0.84), 관내암종은 좋은 일치를 보였다(가중 카파 값 = 0.69).MRI에서 추가 검출된 유방 결절에 대한 조영증강 초음파의 진단 능력은 우수했다. 양성 및 관내암종 병소에서 동적 조영증강 자기공명영상과 조영증강 초음파의 운동 패턴 결과는 좋은 일치도를 보였다.

With the theory of feminist intersectionality, this study examined intimate partner violence (IPV) among Korean immigrant women focusing on gender norms, immigration, and socioeconomic status in the contexts of Korean culture. A total of 83 Korean immigrant women who were receiving a social service from non-profit agencies in ethnically diverse urban areas were recruited with a purposive sampling method. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to examine changes in variance explained by models. Having non-traditional gender norms, a college degree or higher education, immigrant life stresses, and living longer in the United States were positively associated with IPV while having higher income and being more fluent in English were negatively associated with IPV. Findings were discussed to understand Korean immigrant women’s internal conflict affected by their higher education and more egalitarian gender norms under the patriarchal cultural norms while experiencing immigrant life stresses and living in the United States. Implication for practice was also discussed.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers (CNTFs) have potential for use as conducting wires in wearable electronics, but this application requires significant improvement in the mechanical and electrical prope...

The deep-injection floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition (DI-FCCVD) technique is introduced to continuously synthesize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with high aspect ratio (AR>17000) and high crystallinity (IG/ID > 60) at high production rate (>6 mg/min). In this technique all reactants are injected directly and rapidly into high-temperature reaction zone through thin alumina tube; this process leads to simultaneous thermal decomposition of well-mixed catalyst precursors (ferrocene and thiophene), and thus to formation of uniformly-sized catalyst particles. Carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF) fabricated from high-AR CNT has specific strength of 2.94 N/tex and specific modulus of 231 N/tex, which are comparable to those of the state-of-the-art carbon fiber. Both DI-FCCVD and wet spinning methods are easily scalable to mass production, so this study may enable widespread industrial application of CNTFs.

Research has yet to determine how relationships outside of the family system may buffer negative outcomes associated with hopelessness among racial minority youth. In a sample of Black American youth (N = 512; 49% females) and their parents or caregivers, this study used longitudinal growth models to explore whether youth relationships (attachment to peers and attachment to school) moderated the association between caregiver distress (depressive symptoms and traumatic stress), and youth hopelessness. Adolescents’ gender was examined to determine if there were gender differences present in these associations. Four linear growth models showed a significant change in levels of hopelessness over time for youth and a significant positive relation between caregiver distress and youth level of hopelessness. Attachment to peers and attachment to school did not equally moderate the relation between caregiver psychological distress and youth hopelessness. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. Implications for the importance of non-familial attachments among Black American youth with distressed parents are discussed.

Despite the link between child maltreatment and delinquency has been well-established, relatively few studies have examined gender differences in the protective role of school factors that attenuat...

The current study sought to examine the comorbidity of substance misuse and a mental health problem among adolescents and young adults, aged 15–24. It also sought to examine racial/ethnic dispariti...

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between osteopenia and residual dizziness after successful treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). METHODS In all, 62 patients with canalolithiasis-type BPPV were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of residual dizziness after resolution of BPPV. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with residual dizziness. Patients were analyzed based on age, sex, affected semicircular canal, affected side, BPPV duration, and presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and osteopenia. RESULTS In univariate analysis, BPPV duration and osteopenia showed a relatively significant association (p

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting subjective symptoms, especially pain and swelling in submandibular gland sialolithiasis. Methods: We analyzed the computed tomographic (CT) findings of submandibular gland sialolithiasis (stone size/location/ number) and assessed white blood cell (WBC) (neutrophil/absolute neutrophil count) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to elucidate the correlation with subjective symptoms, especially swelling and pain. Results: Of the 82 patients, 45had a solitary stone. Thirty seven patients experienced pain and 73 patients had swelling. The number, location and size of the calculi were not associated with symptoms, especially pain and swelling. From logistic regression analysis, WBC (p=0.048) and the percentage of neutrophils (p=0.027) were associated with the presence of pain, but not swelling. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to observe that both the location and size of stone are not significantly related to subjective symptoms, especially pain and swelling in submandibular gland sialolithiasis. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(2) 2020 p.240-244

The purpose of this study is to present a novel maxillary sinus ventilation drainage (MSVD) device which facilitates blood drainage and nasal breathing after Le Fort I osteotomy. One hundred patients who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery from January 2016 to June 2016 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chung-Ang University Hospital were retrospectively selected and divided into two groups. MSVD was applied in 50 patients, who were allocated to the MSVD group, while the remaining 50 patients, in whom MSVD was not applied, were allocated to the non-MSVD group. All patients underwent a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan before and 2 days after surgery. CBCT was used to analyze middle meatus patency and the percentage of hematoma volume per entire maxillary sinus volume. Statistical comparisons between the two groups were performed using the Chi-squared and Mann–Whitney U tests to investigate the clinical effectiveness of MSVD. The MSVD group showed significantly higher maintenance ratio of the middle meatus patency and a higher percentage of maxillary sinus air volume (p < 0.05) than the non-MSVD group. MSVD facilitated nasal breathing after Le Fort I osteotomy by reducing hematoma inside the maxillary sinus and promoting middle meatal patency.

To evaluate the effect of tonsillectomy on the subsequent risk of pneumonia in an adult population, a longitudinal follow-up case control study was conducted using a national health screening cohort dataset between 2003 and 2012. A total of 1005 tonsillectomy participants were 1:4 matched with 4020 control participants for age, sex, income, and region of residence. The number of pneumonia diagnoses were counted from the index date (ID) to the date after the first-year (post-ID 1y), second-year (post-ID 2y), and third-year (post-ID 3y) periods. Simple linear regression and multiple linear regression were conducted to calculate estimated values (EVs) and 95% confidence intervals for each post-ID pneumonia and compared between the two groups. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age, sex, and the number of pneumonia cases during the year prior to the ID (pre-ID 1y). In the simple linear regression model, post-ID pneumonia did not show a significant correlation with tonsillectomy (post-ID 1y: EV = 0.003; post-ID 2y: EV = 0.007; post-ID 3y: EV = 0.013; all p > 0.05). In the multiple regression model, post-ID pneumonia also did not show a significant correlation with tonsillectomy (post-ID 1y: EV = 0.001; post-ID 2y: EV = 0.006; post-ID 3y: EV = 0.011; all p > 0.05). In the subgroup analyses, tonsillectomy did not show a significant correlation with post-ID pneumonia in either the simple linear regression or multiple linear regression models (all p > 0.05). Tonsillectomy performed in the adult population did not show any effect in increasing the incidence of pneumonia during the first three postoperative years.

Studies have shown that children and youth in foster care have high rates of mental health service use. Few studies have examined the perceptions youth form when receiving these services. This is i...

This study examined whether the effects of attitudes toward mental health treatment on mental health outcomes are moderated by gender in the U.S. population. We utilized the data (N = 491,7...

Ag disc array (200 and 300 nm in diameter) was first adopted to realise the high-infrared-transmittance of ITO-based multilayers, whose array was defined by nanoimprint lithography. The electrical and optical properties of the ITO/Ag disc array/ITO samples were compared with ITO-only and ITO/Ag/ITO samples. Unlike the ITO/Ag/ITO sample, the transmittance of Ag disc array multilayer samples exhibited undulation in the visible region and large depression in the infrared spectral region. The 200-nm Ag disc, 300-nm Ag disc, ITO/Ag/ITO, and ITO-only samples had a transmittance of 20.8%, 95.1%, 32.5% and 86.8% at 982 nm, respectively. This implies that the transmittance in the IR region can be tuned by controlling size of the Ag discs. The sheet resistances of the Ag disc array, ITO/Ag/ITO, and ITO-only samples were 75.7–79.7, 4.77 and 147.96 Ω/sq., respectively. The Ag disc array samples showed mobilities of 32.11–33.91 cm2/V, while the ITO/Ag/ITO sample gave 17.45 cm2/V. The 200-nm Ag disc array sample exhibited higher Haacke's figure of merit (FOM) than the ITO/Ag/ITO sample. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations were performed to understand the measured transmittance behaviour and the undulating transmittance of the Ag disc array samples was attributed to localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect.

Cytoplasmic high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an autophagy regulator, and autophagy is important in the radioresistance of various solid cancers. We evaluated the degree of autophagy and cytoplasmic HMGB1 in radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by culturing the SCC15 and quasiliquid layer 1 (QLL1) SCC cell lines that originate from cancer of the oral tongue and a metastatic lymph node, respectively, and then delivered radiation to induce radioresistance to cells. We then compared the degree of autophagy between non-irradiated control and radioresistant cancer cells using a western blot assay. We also compared the total and cytoplasmic concentrations of HMGB1 between the non-irradiated control and radioresistant cancer cells by western blot assay, and extracellular concentrations of HMGB1 with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Formation of an HMGB1-Beclin1 complex was evaluated by immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Autophagy increased in the radioresistant SCC15 cells (compared with non-irradiated control SCC15 cells) but not in the radioresistant QLL1 cells. The total amount of HMGB1 expression within cells did not differ; however, the degree of cytoplasmic HMGB1 expression was higher in radioresistant SCC15 cells than in non-irradiated control SCC15 cells. The HMGB1-Beclin1 complex, which is a main regulator of autophagy, was also increased in radioresistant SCC15 cells compared with non-irradiated control SCC15 cells. Autophagy flux and cytoplasmic HMGB1-Beclin1 increased after the acquisition of radioresistance in oral SCC.

ITO/Ag/ITO multilayers were optimized at different annealing conditions and were employed as a current spreading layer (CSL) for 365 nm UVLEDs. The ITO (40 nm) layer gave a transmittance of 83.9% at 365 nm, while the ITO/Ag/ITO (13 nm/14 nm/23 nm) multilayers annealed at 600 °C in N2 ambient had 92.3%. The ITO/Ag/ITO multilayer annealed at 600 °C in N2 ambient yielded a sheet resistance of 3.8 Ω/sq., while the ITO layer had 186.8 Ω/sq. The ITO/Ag/ITO multilayers annealed at 600 °C had a Haacke's figure of merit (FOM) of 106.1 × 10−3 Ω−1, which was far larger than that of the ITO layer (1.5 × 10−3 Ω−1). The annealed multilayers revealed optical bandgaps of 3.74–3.94 eV. The high-angle annular dark-field images showed that unlike the N2-annealed samples, the Ag layer of the air-annealed sample experienced agglomeration. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVLEDs) fabricated with the 600 °C-annealed ITO/Ag/ITO CSL displayed 68.5% higher light output at 100 mA than the reference ITO UVLED. Unlike the UVLED with reference ITO, the UVLEDs with the annealed multilayers exhibited uniform light emission across the chip area. The higher light output was attributed to the combined effects of the high transmittance, and better current injection and current spreading of the annealed multilayers.

In the present study, the value of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) as a predictive factor for residual dizziness after recovery of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was evaluated.The present study included 65 patients who had BPPV and underwent cVEMP testing. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of residual dizziness after recovery of BPPV. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with residual dizziness using age, gender, affected semicircular canal, affected side, BPPV duration, and cVEMP parameters.In univariate analysis, cVEMP-modified interaural amplitude difference (IAD) ratio and p13 latency showed a relatively significant association (p 0.20) with residual dizziness. Based on multivariate analysis, increased cVEMP-modified interaural amplitude difference (IAD) ratio at the affected side (≥25%; p = 0.018, OR 6.623) remained as an associated factor.Increased cVEMP-modified IAD ratio at the affected side is associated with residual dizziness. BPPV patients with increased cVEMP-modified IAD ratio at the affected side are more likely to have residual dizziness after recovery of BPPV.cVEMP testing could be used for the prediction of residual dizziness. An increased cVEMP-modified IAD ratio at the affected side may be used as a predictor of residual dizziness.

Label-free dielectrophoretic force-based surface charge detection has shown great potential for highly sensitive and selective sensing of metal ions and small biomolecules. However, this method suffers from a complex calibration process and measurement signal interference in simultaneous multi-analyte detection, thus creating difficulties in multiplex detection. We have developed a method to overcome these issues based on the optical discrimination of the dielectrophoretic behaviors of multiple microparticle probes considering the surface charge difference before and after self-assembling conjugation. In this report, we demonstrate and characterize this dielectrophoretic force-based surface charge detection method with particle probes functionalized by various biomolecules. This technique achieved an attomolar limit of detection (LOD) for Hg

Cell aggregation is a complex behavior, which is closely related to the viability, differentiation, and migration of cells. An effort to create synthetic analogs could lead to considerable advances in cell physiology and biophysics. Rendering and modulating such a dynamic artificial cell system require mechanisms for receiving, transducing, and transmitting intercellular signals, yet effective tools are limited at present. Here we construct synthetic cells from engineered lipids and show their programmable aggregation behaviors using DNA oligonucleotides as a signaling molecule. The artificial cells have transmembrane channels made of DNA origami that are used to recognize and process intercellular signals. We demonstrate that multiple small vesicles aggregate onto a giant vesicle after a transduction of external DNA signals by an intracellular enzyme, and that the small vesicles dissociate when receiving ‘release’ signals. This work provides new possibilities for building synthetic protocells capable of chemical communication and coordination.

Research has yet to determine how relationships outside of the family system may buffer negative outcomes associated with hopelessness among racial minority youth. In a sample of Black American youth (N = 512; 49% females) and their parents or caregivers, this study used longitudinal growth models to explore whether youth relationships (attachment to peers and attachment to school) moderated the association between caregiver distress (depressive symptoms and traumatic stress), and youth hopelessness. Adolescents' gender was examined to determine if there were gender differences present in these associations. Four linear growth models showed a significant change in levels of hopelessness over time for youth and a significant positive relation between caregiver distress and youth level of hopelessness. Attachment to peers and attachment to school did not equally moderate the relation between caregiver psychological distress and youth hopelessness. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. Implications for the importance of non-familial attachments among Black American youth with distressed parents are discussed.

Investigation of the dielectric properties of cell membranes plays an important role in understanding the biological activities that sustain cellular life and realize cellular functionalities. Herein, the variable dielectric polarization characteristics of cell membranes are reported. In controlling the dielectric polarization of a cell using dielectrophoresis force spectroscopy, different cellular crossover frequencies were observed by modulating both the direction and sweep rate of the frequency. The crossover frequencies were used for the extraction of the variable capacitance, which is involved in the dielectric polarization across the cell membranes. In addition, this variable phenomenon was investigated by examining cells whose membranes were cholesterol-depleted with methyl-β-cyclodextrin, which verified a strong correlation between the variable dielectric polarization characteristics and membrane composition changes. This study presented the dielectric polarization properties in live cells' membranes that can be modified by the regulation of external stimuli and provided a powerful platform to explore cellular membrane dielectric polarization.

Increasing access to early care and education (ECE) for children in the child welfare system (CWS) remains a critical issue in the United States, as the numbers of young children entering this system steadily increases. Mounting evidence suggests that participation in at least some types of ECE can mitigate the need for child welfare supervision. Moreover, ECE participation has been linked to positive developmental and school readiness outcomes, lower rates of foster placement, and greater placement stability for children in the CWS. Despite this research, ECE is not widely used by this population. This study informs recent local and federal efforts to increase ECE utilization among children in the CWS by exploring the perspectives of three stakeholder groups (child welfare caseworkers, ECE providers, and parents/caregivers) regarding the benefits of CWS-supervised children’s participation in ECE for 1) the children themselves, 2) their parents/caregivers, and 3) their caseworkers. A total of ten focus groups were conducted with these stakeholders in a large urban area in the western U.S. ( n = 79). Meeting transcripts were analyzed with Atlas TI software to identify themes. Results highlight multiple ways in which participants perceived ECE as being beneficial for CWS-supervised children, as well as for their parents/caregivers, and caseworkers. These findings offer suggestions for ways to motivate caseworkers and parents/caregivers to enroll CWS-supervised children in ECE by educating them about benefits, not only for the children, but also for themselves.

Despite the fact that the link between child maltreatment and delinquency has been well-established, relatively few studies have examined contributing factors in the maltreatment-delinquency relationship and the risk of reoffending. Due to unresolved attachment issues with primary caregivers, children and adolescents with a history of maltreatment may seek an alternative figure for attachment in their peer groups, schools and community settings throughout their life. Using a nationally representative sample from the Korea Welfare Panel study (KWP) in South Korea and latent growth modeling, the current study compares delinquency trajectories and the protective role of school attachment on delinquency between adolescents with (n = 348) and without a history of maltreatment (n = 129) across three waves. Moreover, this study investigates whether the timing of maltreatment affects trajectories of delinquency as well as the protective role of school attachment on delinquency over time. Results revealed that adolescents with a maltreatment history are more likely to engage in delinquency at initial levels and growth processes over time, compared to their counterparts. Initial levels and change rates of school attachment are negatively predictive of initial levels and change rates of delinquency for adolescents with maltreatment, compared to those without such an experience. Timing of maltreatment experience affects growth trajectories of delinquency as well as the protective role of school attachment on delinquency. Implications for adolescents with a history of maltreatment are discussed.

Foster youth experience higher rates of mental health disorders and receive higher rates of mental health services in comparison to the general population. Yet, upon foster care exit, mental health service use drastically declines. Little is known as to the reasons for mental health service decline after foster care exit. However, research studies in the mental health literature have consistently shown that self-stigma and public stigma are significant in mental health service receipt. Studies have also shown that self-stigma affects an adolescent's self-identity, self-efficacy, and interpersonal relationships, which impact self-sufficiency once youth leave foster care. This study explores self-stigma in the utilization of mental health services while in foster care, and whether the stigma developed while in foster care impacts mental health service use upon foster care exit. The role of public stigma in the utilization of mental health services post foster care is also examined. Thirteen former foster youth with a mental health treatment history while in foster care were interviewed. Results show that foster youth experienced self-stigma, which increased the negative impact of mental health service receipt while in foster care. After foster care exit, youth who identified experiencing self-stigma while in foster care tended to discontinue mental health services after foster care exit. In contrast, foster youth who did not identify self-stigma in the receipt of mental health services while in foster care continued accessing services upon foster care exit. Public stigma was not identified as influencing mental health service use post foster care, but was coupled with negative labels, stereotypes, and negative perceptions. Implications for preventive and intervention measures are also discussed/proposed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of otic capsule-sparing (OCS) length for the prediction of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with OCS temporal bone fracture.Thirty-four patients with OCS temporal bone fracture were enrolled, and their temporal bone computed tomography (TBCT), audiogram, and medical records were reviewed. The TBCT measured the shortest length between the otic capsule and fracture line. This length was referred to as the OCS length and was used to predict SNHL. Ossicular dislocation and fracture were also evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of SNHL. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for age, gender, brain hemorrhage, mean bone conduction threshold on the contralesional side, OCS length, and ossicular dislocation and fracture on TBCT. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was produced to evaluate the efficacy of OCS length for the prediction of SNHL. To determine an association between degree of SNHL and OCS length, regression analysis was conducted in the SNHL group.The mean OCS lengths of the SNHL and non-SNHL groups were 4.42±1.67mm and 8.00±5.71mm, respectively. In the univariate analysis, a relatively significant association (P0.20) was found between SNHL and age, brain hemorrhage, mean bone conduction threshold on the contralesional side, OCS length, and incus dislocation. Multivariate analysis was performed using these factors. On multivariate analysis, OCS length (P=0.030, odds ratio=0.598; 95% confidence interval 0.375-0.952) was the only independent factor associated with SNHL. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.747. When the cut-off value of OCS length was 5.27mm, the sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of SNHL were 71.4% and 69.2%, respectively. In the regression analysis, OCS length showed a significant association with degree of SNHL in the SNHL group (P=0.025, β=-12.822, SE=5.282).The major finding of our study was that OCS length was significantly associated with SNHL in patients with OCS temporal bone fracture. Such patients with a short OCS length had a higher likelihood of SNHL.