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Nitric oxide (NO) generation-enhanced atmospheric-pressure plasma technology has been investigated as a nonthermal intervention technology for prolonging the ripening period of tomatoes. UV-irradiated dielectric barrier discharge plasma reaches the NO-enhanced mode earlier, and NO is rapidly involved in the inhibition of tomato respiration. With as little as 26 W of power in total, the NO-processing of tomatoes using plasma technology helps control the postripening of tomatoes. The NO-enrichment mechanism was analyzed through numerical calculations, which revealed that the photolysis of ozone (O3) and nitrous acid (HONO) occurred during UV irradiation. The measured amount of CO2 emitted from plasma-treated tomatoes was ~ 300 ppm lower than that emitted from nontreated tomatoes, indicating that metabolism and respiration were inhibited. In addition, the NO-enhanced plasma treatment of tomatoes is considered to be more effective because the so-treated tomatoes emitted 100 ppm less CO2 than the plasma-treated tomatoes. The delay of respiration through plasma treatment can help prevent color changes or decreases in the firmness of tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma‐facing liquids (PFLs) facilitate the storage of reactive O and N species (RONS), including H2O2 and NO2−, which remain in the PFL after plasma treatment, and they can continuously influence the target immersed in the liquid. However, their behaviors and levels of generation and extinction depend strongly on the plasma characteristics and liquid condition. Therefore, understanding the effects of the liquid type on the plasma discharge characteristics and the RONS generated via plasma discharge is necessary. We compared the RONS generation and storage trends of deionized H2O and a high‐conductivity PFL, RPMI 1640, which is a well‐known cell culture medium commonly used to culture mammalian cells. RPMI 1640 acted as an electrode and enhanced the plasma discharge power by supplying abundant radicals and RONS. The production of gaseous hydroxyl radicals and NO markedly increased, which facilitated H2O2 and NO2− production in the PFL for the first 200 s, and then the increase in the RONS concentration stagnated. With respect to storage, as the components within RMPI 1640 exhibited high reaction constants for their reactions with H2O2, H2O2 elimination was completed in <30 min. Unlike H2O2, the concentration of NO2− in the PFL was unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased relevancy and importance of quantitative literacy (QL) have called for educational reform in undergraduate mathematics course offerings. However, lack of clear guidelines has led to wide variability in the content and outcomes of math courses meant to address QL. Therefore, having an expert consensus regarding content and outcomes for an undergraduate mathematics course focusing on QL would advance the quantitative literacy initiative in higher education. The authors propose the Delphi Method to aid in developing a framework based on expert opinions. The authors explain the Method and suggest the result of this process should yield a research-based framework that faculty and institutions can use as a resource for QL math courses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To generate a stable and effective air–liquid discharge in an open atmosphere, we investigated the effect of the dielectric barrier on the discharge between the pin electrode and liquid surface in an atmospheric-pressure plasma reactor. The atmospheric-pressure plasma reactor used in this study was based on a pin–plate discharge structure, and a metal wire was used as a pin-type power electrode. A plate-type ground electrode was placed above and below the vessel to compare the pin–liquid discharge and pin–liquid barrier discharge (PLBD). The results indicated that the PLBD configuration utilizing the bottom of the vessel as a dielectric barrier outperformed the pin–liquid setup in terms of the discharge stability and that the concentration of reactive species was different in the two plasma modes. PLBD can be used as a digestion technique for determining the phosphorus concentration in natural water sources. The method for decomposing phosphorus compounds by employing PLBD exhibited excellent decomposition performance, similar to the performance of thermochemical digestion—an established conventional method for phosphorus detection in water. The PLBD structure can replace the conventional chemical-agent-based digestion method for determining the total dissolved phosphorus concentration using the ascorbic acid reduction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the instant inactivation effect of dielectric filter discharge (DFD) on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) aerosols. The filter consisted of one layer of ZrO2 beads covered by aluminum mesh electrodes; this porous structure of DFD part generates filter-type surface discharge and reactive oxygen species. In a closed cylindrical chamber, DFD treated air flow containing SARS-CoV-2 aerosols, primarily composed of particle diameters of ≤ 1 μm. A polypropylene melt-blown filter collected the treated bioaerosols for inactivation analysis. Plaque and polymerase chain reaction assays showed that the aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 that passed through the filter were more than 99.84% inactivated with degradation of SARS-CoV-2 genes (ORF1ab and E). However, ozone exposure without DFD passage was not found to be effective for bioaerosol inactivation in plaque assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the socio-critical perspective of mathematical modeling, reflexive discussions about the nature, criteria, and consequences of mathematical models are not a natural consequence of modeling in school. This report is part of a larger study focused on stimulating reflexive discussions in practice employing constructivist grounded theory as a research method. Twenty-seven college algebra students engaged in a 3-week modeling project at a community college in the USA. Audio-recorded group discussions and written reflections were collected to determine how reflexive discussions were taking place. Analysis of students' actions and reflexive discussions during the modeling project produced four concepts: voicing mathematics, personalizing mathematics, challenging mathematics, and negotiating mathematics. These concepts are integrated into an overall process for stimulating reflexive discussions and are conceptualized as unboxing mathematics. The overarching concept of unboxing mathematics represents one interpretation of how reflexive discussions may be constituted during modeling activities and identifies classroom mathematical practices specific to the socio-critical modeling context of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innate-like T (iT) cells comprise a population of immunoregulatory T cells whose effector function is imposed during their development in the thymus to provide protective immunity prior to antigen encounter. The molecular mechanism that drives the generation of iT cells remains unclear. Here, we report that the cytokine receptor γc plays a previously unappreciated role for thymic iT cells by controlling their cellular abundance, lineage commitment, and subset differentiation. As such, γc overexpression on thymocytes dramatically altered iT cell generation in the thymus, as it skewed the subset composition of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells and promoted the generation of IFNγ-producing innate CD8 T cells. Mechanistically, we found that the γc-STAT6 axis drives the differentiation of IL-4-producing iNKT cells, which in turn induced the generation of innate CD8 T cells. Collectively, these results reveal a cytokine-driven circuity of thymic iT cell differentiation that is controlled by the abundance of γc proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the cover picture, the plasma jet located on the liquid surface transfers plasma‐generating chemical species to the liquid as the plume facing the liquid. Depending on the condition of the liquid (conductivity, bubble content, etc.), the intensity of the plasma can be strengthened or weakened. In addition, the survival time of plasma‐generated chemical species can also be determined. More details can be found in the Research Article by Joo Young Park, Jin Hee Bae, and Seunghun Lee (DOI: 10.1002/open.202300213)...By Joo Young Park; Jin Hee Bae and Seunghun LeeReported by Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

Impinging gas jets can induce depressions in liquid surfaces, a phenomenon familiar to anyone who has observed the cavity produced by blowing air through a straw directly above a cup of juice. A dimple-like stable cavity on a liquid surface forms owing to the balance of forces among the gas jet impingement, gravity and surface tension1,2. With increasing gas jet speed, the cavity becomes unstable and shows oscillatory motion, bubbling (Rayleigh instability) and splashing (Kelvin–Helmholtz instability)3,4. However, despite its scientific and practical importance—particularly in regard to reducing cavity instability growth in certain gas-blown systems—little attention has been given to the hydrodynamic stability of a cavity in such gas–liquid systems so far. Here we demonstrate the stabilization of such instabilities by weakly ionized gas for the case of a gas jet impinging on water, based on shadowgraph experiments and computational two-phase fluid and plasma modelling. We focus on the interfacial dynamics relevant to electrohydrodynamic (EHD) gas flow, so-called electric wind, which is induced by the momentum transfer from accelerated charged particles to neutral gas under an electric field. A weakly ionized gas jet consisting of periodic pulsed ionization waves5, called plasma bullets, exerts more force via electrohydrodynamic flow on the water surface than a neutral gas jet alone, resulting in cavity expansion without destabilization. Furthermore, both the bidirectional electrohydrodynamic gas flow and electric field parallel to the gas–water interface produced by plasma interacting ‘in the cavity’ render the surface more stable. This case study demonstrates the dynamics of liquids subjected to a plasma-induced force, offering insights into physical processes and revealing an interdependence between weakly ionized gases and deformable dielectric matter, including plasma–liquid systems.A weakly ionized gas jet impinging on a water surface is shown to produce a more stable cavity than does a neutral gas jet, with implications for plasma–liquid interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma technology has been used in agriculture and plant science by direct and indirect treatment of bio-samples. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms affected by plasma-activated water (PAW) are largely unexplored. In this study, PAW generated from a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) device was used for plant development. Physicochemical analysis was performed to confirm the PAW properties that correlated with the plasma treatment time. Arabidopsis thaliana L. was utilized to study the effect of the PAW treatment in the early developmental stage. The plasma-activated water samples are denoted as PAW5 time in minutes (min), PAW7 min, PAW12 min, PAW19 min and PAW40 min with the plasma treatment time. Seedlings grown in the PAW5, PAW7 and PAW12 had increased root lengths while the root lengths were decreased in the PAW19 and PAW40. In the cellular level observation, the PAW treatment specifically increased the root hair numbers per unit of the root but suppressed the root hair length in the PAW, indicating that PAW mainly modulates the root hair cell density in the root. Furthermore, we found that the root hair density and length at PAW5 in maximal observed conditions were positively regulated by root developmental-related genes including COBRA-LIKE9 (COBL9), XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLUCOSYLASE/HYDROLASE9 (XTH9), XTH17, AUXIN1 (AUX1) and LIKE-AUXIN (LAX3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of air plastron entrapped in a submerged superhydrophobic (SHPo) surface determines the sustainability of the surface properties including drag reduction, self-cleaning, and anti-icing. To increase the stability for high water pressure, various microstructures have been adopted for SHPo surfaces. A re-entrant structure is a typical example to provide high stability for air plastrons. This work proposes flexible overhangs of the re-entrant structures as a new strategy for additional stability. Several SHPo surfaces with re-entrant structures of different sizes are fabricated, and their Young's moduli (E) are controlled from 715.3 kPa to 2509 kPa. Pressurization of water and air diffusion from the plastrons to the surrounding water cause deformation of the air–water meniscus until air plastron disruption starts to occur. The critical water pressure for air plastron disruption is gradually increased as the E of the overhangs decreases. The critical value is also increased as the gap distance between the adjacent overhangs increases. When the water pressure is less than the critical value, the air plastron is also gradually disrupted by the air diffusion. The lifetime elapsed to the air disruption increases by 19%–44% as the value of E decreases. The present results would pave the way for utilizing flexible overhangs of re-entrant structures as a novel approach for increasing the air stability of SHPo surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among adolescent smokers by using a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched from the inception to January 20, 2018. We included RCTs of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among adolescent smokers aged less than 20 years. Data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. The primary outcome measures were a smoking abstinence rate and its relative risk (RR) at the longest follow-up period in each study validated by biochemical markers.Results: Among a total of 1035 articles searched, nine RCTs, which involved 1188 adolescent smokers aged 12-20 years with 627 in the intervention group and 561 in the control group, were included in the final analysis. In the random-effects meta-analysis of all the nine trials, pharmacotherapy showed a increased abstinence rate (RR = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08 to 2.44, I2 = 0.0%), compared with the control group. Subgroup meta-analyses by follow-up period showed an increased abstinence rate at 4 weeks (RR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.22 to 2.87; n = 4) and a nonsignificantly increased abstinence rate during the longer term follow-up periods at 8, 12, 24, and 52 weeks.Conclusions: The current meta-analysis suggests that pharmacotherapy can be considered as an aid for smoking cessation in the short-term period among adolescent smokers. However, further large RCTs are warranted to determine its long-term efficacy and safety.Implications: In this meta-analysis of nine RCTs with 1188 adolescent smokers aged 12-20 years, pharmacotherapy showed an increased abstinence rate, compared with the control group. In the subgroup meta-analyses by follow-up period, it showed the increased abstinence rate at 4 weeks and no efficacy on abstinence during the longer term follow-up periods up to 52 weeks. Further large RCTs are warranted to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in adolescent smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air layers in microstructures of submerged superhydrophobic (SHPo) surfaces enable liquids to slip over these surfaces, thereby inducing drag reduction. However, the instability of entrapped air hinders the utilization of such surfaces in practical applications. Pressurization, air diffusion, and condensation have been regarded as the main mechanisms of the instability. Here, the pressure gradient is proposed as another mechanism that has to be considered for application in marine vehicles and channel surfaces. SHPo surfaces with differently sized ridges are fabricated, and partitioned structures are adopted for the ridges to regulate their length. The pressure gradient condition results in the deformation of air–water meniscus in the transparent ridge structures until air in these structures has been depleted. The critical pressure gradient for air depletion is measured according to the ridge size. Ridges with small widths and lengths sustains air entrapment even at high pressure gradient conditions, and they enhance the drag reduction efficiency by suppressing the deformation of air–water meniscus. Theoretical models are also derived to demonstrate the stability condition and the performance of drag reduction based on the structural sizes of ridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the optimum conditions to maximize the inactivation of biofilms using both plasma-treated solutions and post-treatment storage conditions. Chemical properties of plasma-treated solutions were also analyzed to identify their possible biofilm inactivation mechanisms. Escherichia coli O157:H7 biofilms on stainless steel were prepared and immersed in distilled water (DW), 100 ppm of sodium chloride solution (NaCl), or 100 ppm of sodium hypochlorite solution (NaOCl), followed by container-type plasma treatment for 10 min (15 kHz and 250 W). After plasma discharge was switched off, biofilms immersed in the plasma-treated solution were stored for 10 min with the plasma apparatus closed or open. The log reduction of E. coli O157:H7 was NaOCl (3.58) > NaCl (2.06) = DW (1.95) in the closed storage condition. In addition, the bactericidal effect of NaOCl was higher in the closed condition than in the open condition. Concentrations of the hydroxyl radical (OH·) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) were also the highest for NaOCl in the closed condition. Consequently, plasma treatment using NaOCl solution in the closed condition was found to be the optimum method for inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 biofilms, due to high hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite concentrations. This method also has the merit of using a lower concentration of NaOCl than that used typically in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytokine receptor subunit γc provides critical signals for T cell survival and differentiation. We investigated the molecular mechanism that controls the cell surface abundance of γc during T cell development in the thymus. We found that the amount of γc was low on CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes before their positive selection to become mature T cells. The transcription factor RORγt was abundant in immature DP thymocytes, and its loss resulted in an increase in the abundance of surface γc, specifically on preselection DP cells. Rather than directly repressing expression of the gene encoding γc, RORγt acted through the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL to reduce the abundance of surface γc, which resulted in decreased cytokine signaling and was associated with inhibition of cell metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Accordingly, overexpression of Bcl-xL in RORγt-deficient thymocytes restored the amount of surface γc to that present on normal preselection DP cells. Together, these data highlight a previously unappreciated role for RORγt and Bcl-xL in limiting γc abundance at the cell surface and reveal a signaling circuit in which survival factors control cytokine signaling by limiting the abundance and surface distribution of a receptor subunit shared by several cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article examines the role of national culture, measured by conflict avoidance, on the relationship between leader–member exchange (LMX) and individual employee voice. Using data collected from automotive industry employees in the United States and Korea, the findings show that conflict avoidance is negatively related to employee voice and also moderates the relationship between LMX and employee voice in the Korean sample. In particular, the relationship between LMX and voice becomes less positive when conflict avoidance is high. On the other hand, conflict avoidance does not have a direct effect on employee voice as well as an interactive effect with LMX on employee voice in the U.S. sample. This study, therefore, highlights the importance of the national culture in the comparative study of employee voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the pavement distress data obtained from the field as well as the effects of the soil cover depth, joint position and reinforced slab length on the behaviour of concrete pavement using the finite element method. An ultimate strength model with a similarity of 1/2 was designed and constructed. Finite element analysis incorporating an implicit direct numerical integration scheme was conducted to obtain an optimal design for the pavement structure above a box culvert. An accelerated pavement test was conducted for validation, in which a realistic traffic load was imposed on the pavement model constructed in the laboratory. The strain histories were measured at each section and compared with those of numerical analysis. The optimal joint position and reinforced slab length that can minimise the damage to the pavement structure above a box culvert were also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Common Core Mathematics Standards have raised expectations for schools and students in the United States. These standards demand much deeper content knowledge from teachers of mathematics and their students. Given the increasingly diverse student population in today’s classrooms and shortage of qualified special education teachers, computer-assisted instruction may provide supplementary support, in conjunction with the core mathematics instruction, for meeting the needs of students with different learning profiles. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential effects of the Please Go Bring Me-Conceptual Model-Based Problem Solving (PGBM-COMPS) intelligent tutor program on enhancing the multiplicative problem-solving skills of students with learning disabilities or difficulties in mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diaphragm function may deteriorate due to reduced muscle fiber length. Quantitative analysis of the morphology of the diaphragm is therefore important. In the authors current study, they propose a diaphragm segmentation method for COPD patients that uses volumetric chest computed tomography (CT) data, and they provide a quantitative analysis of the diaphragmatic dimensions. Methods: Volumetric CT data were obtained from 30 COPD patients and 10 normal control patients using a 16-row multidetector CT scanner (Siemens Sensation 16) with 0.75-mm collimation. Diaphragm segmentation using 3D ray projections on the lower surface of the lungs was performed to identify the draft diaphragmatic lung surface, which was modeled using quadratic 3D surface fitting and robust regression in order to minimize the effects of segmentation error and parameterize diaphragm morphology. This result was visually evaluated by an expert thoracic radiologist. To take into consideration the shape features of the diaphragm, several quantification parameters--including the shape index on the apex (SIA) (which was computed using gradient set to 0), principal curvatures on the apex on the fitted diaphragm surface (CA), the height between the apex and the base plane (H), the diaphragm lengths along the x-, y-, and z-axes (XL, YL, ZL), quadratic-fitted diaphragm lengths on the z-axis (FZL), average curvature (C), and surface area (SA)--were measured using in-house software and compared with the pulmonary function test (PFT) results. Results: The overall accuracy of the combined segmentation method was 97.22%±4.44% while the visual accuracy of the models for the segmented diaphragms was 95.28%±2.52% (mean ± SD). The quantitative parameters, including SIA, CA, H, XL, YL, ZL, FZL, C, and SA were 0.85±0.05 (mm-1), 0.01±0.00 (mm-1), 17.93±10.78 (mm), 129.80±11.66 (mm), 163.19±13.45 (mm), 71.27±17.52 (mm), 61.59±16.98 (mm), 0.01±0.00 (mm-1), and 34 380.75±6680.06 (mm²), respectively. Several parameters were correlated with the PFT parameters. Conclusions: The authors propose an automatic method for quantitatively evaluating the morphological parameters of the diaphragm on volumetric chest CT in COPD patients. By measuring not only the conventional length and surface area but also the shape features of the diaphragm using quadratic 3D surface modeling, the proposed method is especially useful for quantifying diaphragm characteristics. Their method may be useful for assessing morphological diaphragmatic changes in COPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originally identified as the third subunit of the high-affinity IL-2 receptor complex, the common γ-chain (γc) also acts as a non-redundant receptor subunit for a series of other cytokines, collectively known as γc family cytokines. γc plays essential roles in T cell development and differentiation, so that understanding the molecular basis of its signaling and regulation is a critical issue in T cell immunology. Unlike most other cytokine receptors, γc is thought to be constitutively expressed and limited in its function to the assembly of high-affinity cytokine receptors. Surprisingly, recent studies reported a series of findings that unseat γc as a simple housekeeping gene, and unveiled γc as a new regulatory molecule in T cell activation and differentiation. Cytokine-independent binding of γc to other cytokine receptor subunits suggested a pre-association model of γc with proprietary cytokine receptors. Also, identification of a γc splice isoform revealed expression of soluble γc proteins (sγc). sγc directly interacted with surface IL-2Rβ to suppress IL-2 signaling and to promote pro-inflammatory Th17 cell differentiation. As a result, endogenously produced sγc exacerbated autoimmune inflammatory disease, while the removal of endogenous sγc significantly ameliorated disease outcome. These data provide new insights into the role of both membrane and soluble γc in cytokine signaling, and open new venues to interfere and modulate γc signaling during immune activation. These unexpected discoveries further underscore the perspective that γc biology remains largely uncharted territory that invites further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the role of herbal medicine in drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) and identify an optimal treatment approach. Design: Retrospective review of DIP cases treated with herbal medicine. Settings/Location: The Parkinson's clinic at Kyung Hee Traditional Korean Medicine Hospital, Korea. Patients: Twenty-one patients whose clinical outcome and offending drug could be identified. Outcome measures: Clinical features, treatments, and outcomes and summarized the clinical course and treatment in each case. Results: Twelve patients had levosulpiride-induced parkinsonism and 9 had parkinsonism induced by another drug. The offending drugs were discontinued in all patients, and all patients received herbal medications during treatment. Nine of 12 patients with parkinsonism from levosulpiride and 4 of 9 patients with parkinsonism from other drugs had complete reversal of symptoms. The most frequently used herbal formula was Ukgansan (Yigansan). DIP in the levosulpiride group tended to improve faster with herbal medicine, and the percentage of improvement was higher. Conclusions: Optimal herbal medicine treatments chosen after a careful history and evaluation for risk factors may be helpful in reversing DIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyosung Yongyeon Plants Plant I: Operated since 1991 Plant II: Operated since 1997 Plant III: Built in 2009 Organization type: Production facilities of Hyosung, a public company Headquarters: Seoul, Republic of Korea Industries: Chemical Plant I: Polypropylene (PP) Plant II: TPA (purified terephthalic acid) Plant III: Optical TAC (cellulose triacetate) film Employees: 450 Annual production: Plant I: 300,000 tonnes of PP Plant II: 420,000 tonnes of TPA Plant III: 50 million square meters (m2) of liquid crystal display (LCD) TAC film [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deteriorated roads should be rapidly repaired to minimize traffic congestion when detours are unavailable. Various overlay methods have been developed to achieve effective repairs of aged and deteriorated concrete pavements. To select the most effective type of overlay, it is necessary to analyze and compare the performance of various types of overlay pavement sections. In this study, the performances of Unpretreated Asphalt Overlay (UAO), Pretreated Asphalt Overlay (PAO), and Bonded Concrete Overlay (BCO) sections constructed on Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP), Jointed Reinforced Concrete Pavement (JRCP), and Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) were analyzed and compared using the U.S. Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database. Calculations of the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of overlay sections were performed and predictions and comparisons of their lifespans were made. In addition, correlations between predicted lifespans and related factors were analyzed based on overlay type. It was mainly concluded that the BCO pavement showed the best performance whereas the UAO pavement had the worst performance of the three overlay types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, airport pavements are designed according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Rigid and Flexible Iterative Elastic Layer Design (FAARFIELD) program. FAARFIELD is capable of analyzing airport pavement behavior based on both the layered elastic-based and three-dimensional finite-element-based design methods. Although the FAA design methods accommodate the mechanical principles needed to calculate the slab thickness required for a given aircraft fleet mix, the effect of temperature-induced loading on the concrete pavement behavior is not considered. This paper presents the tensile stress distribution of concrete slabs and the landing gear position where the maximum tensile stress is observed when both load-induced and temperature-induced loads are taken into consideration in the analysis. Based on three-dimensional finite element analyses, it was observed that the distress types and locations coincided with the actual distress types and locations that are typically found in the field when both traffic-induced and temperature-induced loadings were considered in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effectiveness of using different calcium salts for bioconsolidation. Four calcium salts were chosen based on their applicability and solubility. Initial experiments demonstrated that the addition of any calcium salt had a negative effect on the urease activity of S. pasteurii. Microscopic examinations elucidated the morphological and structural differences of the calcium carbonate (CaCO) crystals induced. Calcite and vaterite are the prominent forms of CaCO detected according to X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Bioconsolidated sand samples were able to significantly resist water flow through a column compared to the non-treated samples. Also, in a tightness test, the differences in the ability to retain water within columns were observed among the samples tested. Moreover, despite the differences, the calcium salts tested still bound the sand together to form blocks. Our results further explain the influence of multiple factors in crystal formation and sand bioconsolidation effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. Using a composite index of legal provisions for annual and family leave in western Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea, the authors rank legislative support for this aspect of work-family balance. The United States ranks last: its employers are not required to grant annual leave and employees can take no more than 12 weeks' family leave per year. The United States' comparatively low labour standards, the authors argue, may be due to the dominance of a market-based conception of employment and the assumption of equal employer-employee bargaining power, neither of which is fully shared by the other industrialized democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé. A partir d'un indice synthétique des dispositions réglementaires sur les congés annuels et familiaux en Europe occidentale, aux Etats-Unis, au Canada, en Australie, au Japon et en Corée, les auteurs classent ces pays quant au soutien à l'équilibre entre travail et famille. Les Etats-Unis arrivent derniers: les employeurs ne sont pas tenus d'accorder des congés annuels, et les salariés ne peuvent prendre plus de douze semaines de congés par an pour raisons familiales. Ces normes comparativement basses s'expliqueraient par une conception fondée sur le libre marché et un postulat d'égalité de rapport de forces entre employeur et salarié. Vision qui n'est pleinement partagée par aucune des autres démocraties examinées. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Los autores comparan las normativas sobre vacaciones y licencias susceptibles de facilitar el equilibrio entre vida profesional y familiar de Australia, Canadá, República de Corea, Estados Unidos, Europa occidental y Japón utilizando un índice compuesto para clasificarlas. Los Estados Unidos figuran en último lugar: la concesión de vacaciones anuales al trabajador no es obligatoria y las licencias por motivos familiares se limitan a 12 semanas al año. Este bajo nivel de reglamentación podría deberse, según los autores, a una concepción mercantilista del empleo sumada a la creencia de que empleador y trabajadores tienen idéntica capacidad de negociación, visión no compartida por las demás democracias industrializadas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) for portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP) has been developed recently and, within it, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CoTE) of concrete is considered as a crucial variable. Previous research has suggested that the concrete CoTE is affected by the availability of moisture in capillary and gel pores. The capillary pores are filled with hydration products, and their volume decreases at an early age of the concrete. However, the variation of the concrete CoTE due to hydration and moisture has not been quantified completely. The results have varied mainly due to the development of measurement techniques. The age and moisture effects on the CoTE of concrete were investigated by measuring the temperature, humidity, and strain of a cylinder specimen at both the initial and later ages. Drying shrinkage and autogenous shrinkage were considered in the calculation of the CoTE, particularly at early concrete ages. This investigation was facilitated by moving a concrete test specimen periodically from a 60°C environment to a 10°C environment over a 6-month period. Dilatometer testing and composite modeling were also conducted to verify the age and moisture effects on the concrete CoTE. Results show a close resemblance between the CoTEs determined by these different approaches. According to finite-element (FE) analysis, the behavior of the pavement slab was significantly affected by the variation of the concrete CoTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors compared a conceptual model- based problem-solving (COMPS) approach with a general heuristic instructional approach for teaching multiplication–division word-problem solving to elementary students with learning problems (LP). The results indicate that only the COMPS group significantly improved, from pretests to posttests, their performance on the criterion test (that involves equal groups and multiplicative compare problems) and the prealgebra model expression test. The study results suggest that elementary students with LP can be expected to move beyond concrete operations and to algebraically represent mathematical relations in conceptual models that drive the solution plan for accurate problem solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium through surface molecules such as E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a critical cellular event reflecting the physiological status of both cell types. Here we present a microfluidic system that can not only easily monitor the interaction between leukocytes and endothelial cells under physiological conditions, but also screen drug candidates for potential modulation of this interaction. Shear stress, which is an important factor for the binding of activated T cells to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), was easily controlled by adjusting the flow rate in the microfluidic system. Whole blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have auto-reactive T cells were infused into the activated HUVECs which subsequently showed a higher level of binding compared to a control blood sample from a person without SLE. When these autoreactive T cells were treated with immunosuppressors tacrolimus and cyclosporin A, the binding of the T cells to HUVECs was dramatically decreased. Therefore, this microfluidic system is capable of differentiating the physiological status of T cells or endothelial cells representing different disease conditions, as well as being useful for the identification of novel reagents that modulate the functions of leukocytes or endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J Oral Pathol Med (2011) : 250-256 LHX8 (LIM-homeobox gene 8) is known as an important regulating factor in tooth morphogenesis. Odontoma is a mixed odontogenic tumor where epithelium and mesenchyme differentiated together, resulting in anomalous tooth structures. In this study, gene and protein expressions of LHX8 were analyzed in human odontoma-derived mesenchymal cells (HODC) compared to adult dental mesenchymal stem cells (aDSC), as well as morphological and histological characteristics of odontoma were analyzed. aDSCs were isolated from normal teeth, and HODCs were isolated from surgically removed odontoma mass. Morphological and histological evaluations were performed to compare between compound odontomas and normal premolars. RT-PCR and real-time PCR were performed to identify LHX8 mRNA expression in the HODCs and aDSCs. LHX8 protein expression levels were observed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescent staining. The compound odontoma was composed of multiple tooth-like structures, which contained disorganized but recognizable enamel matrix, dentin, pulp, and cementum. LHX8 mRNA and LHX8 protein expressions were all higher in HODCs compared to those in aDSCs examined by RT-PCR, immunoblot, and immunofluorescent staining. Especially, real-time PCR showed 2.77-fold higher LHX8 expression in HODCs than in normal periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), while alveolar bone marrow stem cells (ABMSCs) expressed 0.12-fold LHX8 than PDLSCs. Based on these observations, LHX8 might play an important role in odontoma formation. This is the first report regarding the comparison of LHX8 expression between HODC and normal aDSCs and its overexpression in human samples. The specific mechanism of LHX8 in odontoma morphogenesis awaits further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), disease prevention has become incredibly important. Consequently, mask and air-purifier use has increased. The filter is the core component of these items. However, most filter materials lack antimicrobial properties. Copper is a sustainable antimicrobial material. When copper is deposited onto the filter's surface, the microorganisms that come into contact with it can be effectively inactivated. In this study, we used an oxygen ion beam with a controlled process temperature to treat filter surfaces with copper. This enabled a strong adhesion of at least 4 N/cm between the copper and the filter fibers without damaging them. Upon exposing the filter to bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) for one hour, a >99.99% removal rate was attained; when the filter was exposed to SARS-CoV-2 virus for one hour, it inactivated more than 99%. These beneficial properties minimize the risk of secondary infections, which are significantly more likely to occur when a conventional filter is replaced or removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study was to see whether echinomycin-induced apoptosis would be NF-κB-dependent and if so, whether echinomycin would activate or inhibit NF-κB as well as resultant chemokine IL-8 expression. In HT-29 cells echinomycin activated NF-κB in time-dependent manner. EMSA in the presence of antibodies specific for p50 and p65 subunits indicated that echinomycin-induces the translocation of p50–p65 heterodimeric subunits of NF-κB. Levels of IκB were detected at initial echinomycin treatment and thereafter decreased, faintly seen after a 6h treatment. In contrast p-IκB levels were clearly detected throughout 6–24h of echinomycin treatment, albeit initially fainted. To clarify the role of NF-κB on IL-8 expression in echinomycin-mediated apoptosis of HT-29 cells, ELISA plus RT-PCR clearly showed that IL-8 production is inducible by echinomycin treatment. Using a specific inhibitor, IL-8 regulation at echinomycin treatment in HT-29 cells occurred via both caspase-3 and NF-κB-dependent signal pathway. To confirm whether two different pathways (NF-κB and caspase) would be coupled, only NF-κB inhibitor (PDTC) and caspase-3 specific inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK) together significantly attenuated echinomycin-initiated apoptosis of HT-29 cells, pretreatment of HT-29 cells with PDTC rarely affected echinomycin-induced caspase-3 activation. So echinomycin-induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells occurs via NF-κB activation independent of caspase-3 activation modulating the resultant-linked key chemokine IL-8 expression and echinomycin-induced apoptosis is NF-κB-dependant and directly related to NF-κB activation, consequently regulating IL-8 expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The synthesis of phenoxymethyl ethylene carbonate from carbon dioxide and phenyl glycidyl ether was investigated in a semi-batch reactor using crosslinked polystyrene beads containing pendant quaternary ammonium salts as catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by suspension copolymerization of styrene, divinylbenzene (DVB) and vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC), followed by quaternization using trialkylamines. The influence of VBC and DVB concentration, the structure of trialkylamine, and the type of solvent, on the catalytic behavior are discussed. A kinetic study was also carried out to better understand the reaction steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic polyester (PEA) and copolyesters having pendant carboxyl groups aredirectly synthesized from isophthaloyl chloride, diphenolic acid and diols byaqueous/organic two-phase interfacial polycondensation, using phase transfercatalysts. The yield and molecular weight of the polyester were remarkablyaffected by the structure of quaternary ammonium salts and crown ether catalysts.The phase transfer reaction steps are suggested to explain this phenomena. Theproperties of copolyesters were dependent on the original structure of diols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the homeostatic mechanism of invariant natural killer T (i NKT) cells is a critical issue in i NKT cell biology. Because interleukin (IL)-15 is required for the thymic generation of i NKT cells, IL-15 has also been considered necessary for the homeostasis of peripheral i NKT cells. Here, we delineated the in vivo cytokine requirement for i NKT cells, and we came to the surprising conclusion that IL-7, not IL-15, is the homeostatic cytokine for i NKT cells. Employing a series of experimental mouse models where the availability of IL-7 or IL-15 was manipulated in peripheral tissues, either by genetic tools or by adult thymectomy and cytokine pump installation, we demonstrate that the abundance of IL-7, and not IL-15, limits the size of the peripheral i NKT cell pool. These results redefine the cytokine requirement for i NKT cells and indicate competition for IL-7 between i NKT and conventional αβ T cells. [Display omitted] • IL-15 is required for the generation but not the survival of peripheral i NKT cells • IL-7 is a homeostatic cytokine for i NKT cells in peripheral tissues • IL-7 availability constrains the size of the peripheral i NKT cell pool Park et al. assess the cytokine requirement for i NKT cells. While IL-15 is required for the thymic generation of i NKT cells, the survival and homeostasis of peripheral i NKT cells critically depend on the availability of IL-7 and not IL-15, revealing a dichotomy in the cytokine usage of i NKT cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a teleconference system for medical image processing and orthopedic surgical simulation is presented. The system has been designed to integrate main functions for surgical teleconferencing using 3-D medical images for the user's convenience. The developed system, Teleconference System for Orthopedic Surgical Simulation (TOSS), includes three important components: the conference manager, the database manager and the surgical simulator. The conference manager controls conference flows and allows users to share workspace. The database manager maintains the conference database for patient data and conference data. The surgical simulator performs medical image processing for visualization and simulation. We find that the developed system can provide excellent support for cooperation in certain scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The key reactive species generated by non-thermal plasma bubbles for the inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium and the effects of organic matter on the inactivation efficacy were investigated. Plasma, which is primarily composed of ozone (O3), was generated by dielectric barrier discharge and injected into a solution (400 mL) as a bubble. The surviving population of S. Typhimurium decreased in proportion to the treatment time, resulting in a 5.29 log reduction after 5 min of treatment. Verification tests to specify key reactive species were conducted using an O3 destruction unit and reactive oxygen species scavengers. The results indicated that singlet oxygen (1O2) contributes substantially to the inactivation of S. Typhimurium, and that the presence of superoxide anion radicals (O2·−) from O3 is essential for the production of 1O2. When a S. Typhimurium suspension containing organic matter (final concentration: 0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 g/L), consisting of beef extract and peptone, was treated with plasma bubbles for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min, respectively, the potential of the plasma bubbles for inactivating S. Typhimurium successfully was verified with longer contact time, despite organic matter attenuating the inactivation efficiency in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The periodontal complex consisting of alveolar bone, cementum, and periodontal ligaments (PDL) supports human teeth through the systematic orchestration of mineralized tissues and fibrous tissues. Importantly, cementum, the outermost mineralized layer of dental roots, plays an essential role by bridging the inner ligaments from the dental root to the alveolar bone. When the periodontal complex is damaged, the regeneration of each component of the periodontal complex is necessary; however, it is still challenging to achieve complete functional regeneration. In this study, we tried to control the regeneration of cementum and PDL by using a human PDL stem cell (hPDLSC) sheet engineering technology with the pretreatment of recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2). Isolated hPDLSCs obtained from extracted human teeth were pretreated with rhBMP-2 for in vitro osteogenic differentiation and grafted on the micro/macro-porous biphasic calcium phosphate (MBCP) blocks, which represent dental roots. The MBCPs with hPDLSC sheets were implanted in the subcutaneous layer of immune-compromised mice, and rhBMP-2 pretreated hPDLSC sheets showed higher mineralization and collagen ligament deposition than the no-pretreatment group. Therefore, the rhBMP-2-hPDLSC sheet technique could be an effective strategy for the synchronized regeneration of two different tissues: mineralized tissue and fibrous tissues in periodontal complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zbtb16 encodes the zinc-finger protein PLZF, which is often used as a lineage marker for innate-like T cells and is specifically required for the generation of invariant natural killer T (i NKT) cells in the thymus. Here, we report that not only PLZF expression itself but also the relative abundance of PLZF proteins plays critical roles in i NKT cell development. Utilizing a Zbtb16 hypomorphic allele, PLZFGFPCre, which produces PLZF proteins at only half of the level of the wild-type allele, we show that decreased PLZF expression results in a significant decrease in i NKT cell numbers, which is further associated with profound alterations in i NKT lineage choices and subset composition. These results document that there is a quantitative aspect of PLZF expression in i NKT cells, demonstrating that the availability of PLZF protein is a critical factor for both effective i NKT cell generation and subset differentiation. • PLZF is required for the generation and differentiation of i NKT cells • A hypomorphic allele of PLZF alters i NKT cell development and subset composition • Quantitative difference in PLZF protein abundance determines i NKT lineage fate i NKT cells are innate-like effector T cells that are produced in the thymus as three distinct subsets. Park et al. show that the relative abundance of the transcription factor PLZF drives subset differentiation of i NKT cells, revealing a quantitative aspect of PLZF expression in i NKT lineage choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the stroke recurrence rate and the rate of adverse effects induced by an herbal medicine, Chunghyul-dan, administered to patients over a 5-year period. We prescribed 600 mg Chunghyul-dan a day to patients with small vessel diseases and investigated stroke recurrence, adverse effects, and drug compliance for 5 years. The primary outcome was the prevalence of stroke recurrence (in 3, 4, and 5 years). The secondary outcome was the frequency of adverse effects induced by Chunghyul-dan. We recruited 400 patients. Among them, 270, 233, and 195 patients completed 3, 4, and 5 years of follow-up, respectively. Among patients who completed 3, 4, and 5 years of follow-up, cumulative recurrent stroke occurred in 7 (2.6%), 11 (4.7%), and 12 (6.2%) patients. There were no adverse effects. We suggest that Chunghyul-dan might be useful for the inhibition of stroke recurrence by reducing microangiography progression. Further study is needed to confirm our hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]