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By selecting appropriate microhabitats, animals gain various benefits. For amphibians, which are ectothermic, appropriate microhabitat selection is directly related to their survival. This study aims to characterize the microhabitat type selected by Bufo gargarizans in South Korea, which has not yet been examined, using radiotelemetry. We analyzed the percent cover of different microhabitat features at sites where B. gargarizans was found. The microhabitat was categorized into eight types: stacked dry leaves litter or hay, grass, naked field, stones/pebbles, fallen branches, alive or dead trees/shrubs, wetland, and other. We collected a total of 60 location data, all of which had closed cover. From these, nine hibernation sites and six post-breeding dormancy sites were identified. Dry leaf litter was found to be the most frequently selected microhabitat type. We also found significant differences in microhabitat type between the hibernation period and the post-breeding dormancy period. We considered that these differences can be explained by the ecological characteristics of B. gargarizans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid biopsy, which is a minimally invasive procedure as an alternative to tissue biopsy, has been introduced as a new diagnostic/prognostic measure. By screening disease-related markers from the blood or other biofluids, it promises early diagnosis, timely prognostication, and effective treatment of the diseases. However, there will be a long way until its realization due to its conceptual and practical challenges. The biomarkers detected by liquid biopsy, such as circulating tumor cell (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), are extraordinarily rare and often obscured by an abundance of normal cellular components, necessitating ultra-sensitive and accurate detection methods for the advancement of liquid biopsy techniques. Optical biosensors based on nanomaterials open an important opportunity in liquid biopsy because of their enhanced sensing performance with simple and practical properties. In this review article, we summarized recent innovations in optical nanomaterials to demonstrate the sensitive detection of protein, peptide, ctDNA, miRNA, exosome, and CTCs. Each study prepares the optical nanomaterials with a tailored design to enhance the sensing performance and to meet the requirements of each biomarker. The unique optical characteristics of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), quantum dots, upconversion NPs, silica NPs, polymeric NPs, and carbon nanomaterials are exploited for sensitive detection mechanisms. These recent advances in liquid biopsy using optical nanomaterials give us an opportunity to overcome challenging issues and provide a resource for understanding the unknown characteristics of the biomarkers as well as the mechanism of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), low blood pressure after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) can be a sign of hemodynamic instability. We aimed to investigate whether systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured immediately after ROSC is associated with survival on admission. Methods: Patients with ROSC after OHCA between 2015 and 2018 were included. The primary outcome was survival on admission. Included patients were divided into three groups based on the SBP measured at the time of ROSC: group 1 (SBP ≤90 mmHg), group 2 (SBP 90–120 mmHg), and group 3 (SBP >120 mmHg). Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between the groups by SBP and outcomes. Results: In the final analysis, 519 patients were included. In the restrictive cubic spline curve, the probability of achieving survival on admission increased gradually from low SBP to approximately 120–130 mmHg, then plateaued at a higher SBP. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, group 1 was independently associated with decreased survival on admission compared to group 2. There was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3. Conclusions: Low blood pressure (SBP ≤90 mmHg) at the time of ROSC was independently associated with a lower likelihood of survival on admission in patients with non‐traumatic OHCA. However, high blood pressure (SBP >120 mmHg) was not associated with a higher likelihood of survival. These suggest that low blood pressure measured in the prehospital phase can serve as an indicator predicting the poor short‐term prognosis of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leucism, in which pigmentation is lost over part or the entire body of an animal, has a range of possible genetic causes. Here, we report leucism in an individual tiger keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus) found on Jeung Island, Shinan‐gun, Jeollanam‐do, South Korea, during a survey of the distribution of reptiles in the area. The individual was observed sunbathing in the bushes next to a pond. This individual exhibited ecdysis, thus it considered that have normal feeding activity. Our report represents the first observation of leucism in R. tigrinus, and thus, further analysis is needed of this phenotype to more clearly understand its impact on the species and its natural history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS) is a commonly used technique for analyzing large biomolecules. However, the utilization of organic matrices limits the small-molecule analysis because of the interferences in the low-mass region and the reproducibility issues. To overcome these limitations, a surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI), which utilizes nanostructured metallic surfaces, has been developed. Herein, a novel approach for SALDI–MS was proposed using silica@gold core–shell hybrid materials with a nanogap-rich shell (SiO2@Au NGS), which is an emerging material due to its excellent heat-generating capabilities. The gold shell thickness was controlled by adjusting the concentration of gold precursor for the growth of gold nanoparticles. SALDI-MS measurements were performed on a layer formed by drop-casting a mixture of SiO2@Au NGS and analytes. At the optimized process, the gold shell thickness was observed to be 17.2 nm, which showed the highest absorbance. Based on the enhanced SALDI capability, SiO2@Au NGS was utilized to detect various small molecules, including amino acids, sugars, and flavonoids, and the ionization softness was confirmed with a survival yield upon fragmentation. The limits of detection, reproducibility, and salt tolerance of SiO2@Au NGS demonstrate its potential as an effective and reliable SALDI material for small-molecule analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical features of multiple‐layered axial heterostructures composed of III‐nitride semiconductors (GaN, InGaN, and AlGaN) are investigated to realize tunable nanolasers. The optical confinement effects develop exciton‐polariton in nanorods, leading to polariton lasing with distinctive dispersion. The lasing characteristics in the heterostructure are similar to those in the homostructure, although the carrier transfer between layers influences the optical gain. The energy‐dependent property of polariton changes the mode spacing of lasing peaks. The alloyed systems of InGaN can tune the color of lasing in the visible region, while the lasing of AlGaN is also achievable in the optimized configuration. The polarization of lasing indicates the predominant contribution of the fundamental transverse mode. Therefore, in the multiple‐layered heterostructure, controllable triple‐color lasing using the feature of polariton, modulation of band gap energy, and the amplification process of the waveguide is demonstrated for the first time, with the tunable color over a wide range of the visible region. Multicolor polariton nanolasers offer a promising path to diverse nanophotonic devices with controllable optical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic, environment, and behaviour factors have a role in causing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). We aimed to determine the strength of the association between various risk factors and SCA incidence. We conducted a multicentre case-control study at 17 hospitals in Korea from September 2017 to December 2020. The cases included out-of-hospital cardiac arrest aged 19–79 years with presumed cardiac aetiology. Community-based controls were recruited at a 1:1 ratio after matching for age, sex, and urban residence level. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted. Among the 1016 cases and 1731 controls, 948 cases and 948 controls were analysed. A parental history of SCA, low educational level, own heart disease, current smoking, and non-regular exercise were associated with SCA incidence (Adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.51 [1.48–4.28] for parental history of SCA, 1.37 [1.38–2.25] for low edication level, 3.77 [2.38–5.90] for non-coronary artery heart disease, 4.47 [2.84–7.03] for coronary artery disease, 1.39 [1.08–1.79] for current smoking, and 4.06 [3.29–5.02] for non-regular exercise). Various risk factors related to genetics, environment, and behaviour were independently associated with the incidence of SCA. Establishing individualised SCA prevention strategies in addition to general prevention strategies is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sternotherus carinatus has been considered as a potential invasive species in Korea. However, the mitochondrial genome information of S. carinatus which can be used to control its effect on ecosystem is lacking. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of S. carinatus in Korea was sequenced and characterized. The mitochondrial genome consists of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes) and a noncoding region. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial genome sequences showed that S. carinatus from Korea is separated from other turtles which are the invasive species in Korea. Sequence divergence calculations indicated near-zero divergence between S. carinatus populations in Korea, the USA, and China, suggesting limited genetic differentiation. In the context of the broader issue of invasive species disrupting ecosystems, this research contributes to the identification of mitochondrial genomes for various freshwater turtle species, emphasizing the need for extended data collection to discern genetic mixing trends between native and non-native species. This study is a significant step toward managing S. carinatus as a potential invasive species in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of Chrysemys picta bellii in Korea was sequenced and characterized. The mitochondrial genome consists of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes) and a noncoding region. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial genome sequences revealed that C. p. bellii from Korea formed a cluster with C. p. bellii from China and C. picta from the USA, while showing clear separation from other turtle species within the C. picta cluster. This study presented the first complete mitochondrial genome from C. p. bellii in Korea, offering crucial information for managing invasive species and protecting the local ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to characterize the molecular features and virulence profiles of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolates. Clinical CRAB isolates were obtained from blood cultures of adult patients with CRAB bacteremia, collected between July 2015 and July 2021 at a Korean hospital. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect 13 virulence genes, genotyping was conducted via multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and a Tenebrio molitor infection model was selected for survival analysis. Herein, 170 patients, from whom CRAB isolates were collected, showed the in-hospital mortality rate of 57.6%. All 170 clinical CRAB isolates harbored blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-51. MLST genotyping identified 11 CRAB sequence types (STs), of which ST191 was predominant (25.7%). Virulence genes were distributed as follows: basD, 58.9%; espA, 15.9%; bap, 92.4%; and ompA, 77.1%. In the T. molitor model, ST195 showed a significantly higher mortality rate (73.3% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.015) than the other groups. Our findings provide insights into the microbiological features of CRAB blood isolates associated with high mortality. We suggest a potential framework for using a T. molitor infection model to characterize CRAB virulence. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which virulence improves clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid, accurate, and convenient diagnosis is essential for effective disease management. Various detection methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, have been extensively used, with lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) recently emerging as a major diagnostic tool. Nanoparticles (NPs) with characteristic optical properties are used as probes for LFIA, and researchers have presented various types of optical NPs with modified optical properties. Herein, we review the literature on LFIA with optical NPs for the detection of specific targets in the context of diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien invasive species are posing conservation challenges worldwide. Pet trade, one of the many ways, is worsening the situation. Especially, pet turtles have been released into nature due to their longer life span and peoples' religious and traditional beliefs. In addition, unwanted and undesired pets are also released. While information on the successful local establishment and subsequent dispersal into new habitats is required to designate an invasive and ecosystem-disturbing species, alien freshwater turtle nests have always been hard to find and identify in nature. Because one should identify nests by the eggs, which do not always guide properly, as adults abandon the sites quickly. We thought the recent advancement in DNA technology may help improve the situation. We studied Pseudemys peninsularis, one of the most traded freshwater turtle pet species, which has already been reported from a wide range of wild areas in South Korea. Yet, it is not designated as ecosystem-disturbing species due to a lack of adequate information on their local reproduction and establishment. We conducted surveys and found two nests in Jeonpyeongje Neighborhood Park, Maewol-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. We developed the methodology for extracting DNA from the eggshells and successfully identified the nests by phylogenetic analysis and verified through egg characteristics and morphological features of artificially hatched juveniles. This was the first successful initiative to extract DNA from freshwater turtle eggshells. We believe it will help future researchers identify the alien invasive turtle nests and develop their control and management policies. In addition, our study also included comparative descriptions and schematic diagrams of the eggs of eight freshwater turtles, including a native and three ecosystem-disturbing species, from South Korea. We urged an immediate designation of P. peninsularis as an ecosystem-disturbing species considering its local establishment, distribution range, and potential negative impact on native ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart toilets are a key tool for enabling precision health monitoring in the home, but such passive monitoring has ethical considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the quantum yield and color purity suitable for applications to the visible emitters in display devices, the optical features of indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) are improved. Two types of InP cores are synthesized with two kinds of the phosphorus precursors, tris-(trimethylsilyl)-phosphine and tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphine. The prepared cores are fabricated for the gradient-alloyed inner shell (ZnSeS) and outer shell (ZnS) to complete the environmentally benign QDs with the structures of core/inner-shell/outer-shell. The quantum yields in the two types of QDs are 95 and 85% with the bandwidths of 35 and 36 nm, respectively, comparable to the characteristics of state-of-the-art InP QDs. The band-to-band transition of the neutral states in QDs turns out to be more efficient than the band-to-hole transition, whereas the optical transitions of the charged states are not strong. Despite the similar peak shapes with the equivalent Stokes shift, the optical features investigated by temperature-dependent and time-resolved spectroscopy are distinctive in the two types of QDs. In particular, the formation of the charged states and localized states, in addition to the dark states, is influenced by the precursors. These findings suggest strategies to enhance the quantum yield and color purity of InP QDs for applications to display devices with a green chemistry approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moreover, the photoluminescence intensity of QDs with ZnS/ZnO shells shows a relatively slow decay of 7.1% compared with ZnS shells at a 85 °C/85% relative humidity aging test for 500 h. Chang et al. reported improved characteristics of CdSe/CdS/ZnS core-shell quantum dots [[8]]. 10.1126/science.281.5385.2016 7 Kim J., Hwang D.W., Jung H.S., Kim K.W., Pham X.H., Lee S.H., Byun J.W., Kim W., Kim H.M., Hahm E. High-quantum yield alloy-typed core/shell CdSeZnS/ZnS quantum dots for bio-applications. QDs with a high OLA concentration exhibit diffraction peaks of ZnS/ZnO and the thermal stability of QDs with ZnS/ZnO shells exhibits better performance than those with ZnS shells. [Extracted from the article]

The invasive species are of global concern, and the Invasive American Bullfrog (IAB; Lithobates catesbeianus) is one of the worst invasive amphibian species worldwide. Like other countries, South Korea is also facing challenges from IAB. Although many studies indicated impacts of IAB on native anurans in Korea, the actual risk at the specific level is yet to evaluate. Considering the putative invasiveness of IAB, it is hypothesized that any species with the possibility of physical contact or habitat sharing with them, will have a potential risk. Thus, we estimated and observed their home range, preferred habitats, morphology, behavior, and ecology. Then, comparing with existing knowledge, we assessed risks to the native anurans. We found a home range of 3474.2 ± 5872.5 m2 and identified three types of habitats for IAB. The analyses showed at least 84% of native anurans (frogs and toads) were at moderate to extreme risks, which included all frogs but only 33% of toads. Finally, we recommended immediate actions to conserve the native anurans based on our results. As this study is the first initiative to assess the specific risk level from the invasiveness of L. catesbeianus, it will help the managers to set conservation priorities and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied H‐bonded structural rearrangement in the S0, S1, and D0 states of neutral and cationic aniline+(H2O)n (n = 0–12) clusters by adopting density functional (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) theory. DFT‐calculated structural rearrangement energies (SRE) increased sharply for n = 1, 2, remained nearly the same until n = 9, and increased again from n = 10 to larger clusters. This indicates that the intramolecular vibrational modes play a central role in the rearrangement energy. On the other hand, DFT‐calculated thermochemical data confirmed that there is no significant change in enthalpy (H), Gibb's free energy (G), and entropy (S) for neutral and ionized clusters. The maximum UV absorption wavelength, λmax red‐shifted gradually with the increase of cluster size with respect to aniline as the hydration reduces the excitation energies. On the other hand, there was no significant change in the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)‐lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Age determination is very important for observing life history traits, evaluating vulnerable life stages, and setting proper management and conservation strategies. Age determination in animals has always been tricky. Among other approaches, skeletochronology, an age determination method that involves counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) produced during inactive periods, similar to plant year rings, is well-practiced in many animal groups. However, the applicability of this method remains questioned for many species, including amphibians, because of concerns around the scarcity of information on confirmed numbers of annual LAGs (e.g., once or twice in a year), chances of the disappearance of LAGs over time, and which lines exactly to count. Herein, we tested its applicability to Kaloula borealis, a class II endangered amphibian in South Korea, by rearing juveniles in the laboratory for more than one year and comparing the results with the wild population at Lake Sihwa. This study confirmed the formation of one LAG each year and no disappearance of LAGs over time in this species. Furthermore, we were also able to determine the age structure of this wild population accurately. Hence, our study validates using skeletochronology in this species and recommends it for others that show similar growth patterns. Despite having some limitations, the use of skeletochronology—age determination by counting lines of arrested growth (LAGs)—in amphibians is increasing. The main limitation of using skeletochronology is identifying the innermost visible line (IVL) and counting the exact number of LAGs. Thus, we tested its applicability to Kaloula borealis, a class II endangered amphibian in South Korea. We reared juveniles in the lab to investigate the process of bone formation. This confirmed the development of one LAG each year. Hence, our study validates skeletochronology for the age determination of this species and recommends it for others that show similar growth patterns. Furthermore, the comparison of threshold diameters with the IVL of wild individuals confirmed no LAG1 resorption. The average age of males and females in this population was 2.75 ± 1.05 and 3.64 ± 3 years, respectively. We estimated sexual maturity at 2 years with rapid growth up to that stage in both sexes. We found a female-dominated sexual size dimorphism. This study offers accurate information on the life history traits and age structure of K. borealis that may help to evaluate population dynamics in other areas, identify vulnerable life stages and sites, assess the causes of population decline, and set conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continued COVID-19 surges have highlighted the need for widespread testing in addition to vaccination for disease containment. SARS-COV-2 RNA can be found in faecal matter, making human stool another potential source for COVID-19 diagnostics. In this commentary, we highlight potential strategies to use a smart toilet platform to passively monitor COVID-19 surges, enabling earlier detection of infected individuals and promoting public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients is a global public health challenge. We analyzed the relationship between the number of prehospital EMS personnel and survival admission, survival discharge, and good neurologic outcomes in OHCA patients. This was a retrospective observational study. Adult nontraumatic OHCA patients from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, were included from 12 cities in the Gyeonggi province, a metropolitan area located in the suburbs of the capital of the Republic of Korea. By comparing the insufficient EMS team (four or five EMS personnel) and the sufficient EMS team (six EMS personnel), we showed the survival rate of each group. Using propensity score matching, we reduced the bias of the confounding variables. A total of 3,632 OHCA patients were included. After propensity score matching, survival to admission was higher in the sufficient EMS team than in the insufficient EMS team (odds ratio (OR): 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–1.84, P = 0.03). Survival-to-discharge was similar (OR: 1.70, CI: 1.20–2.40, P = 0.03), but there was no significant outcome in good neurologic outcomes (OR: 0.88, CI: 0.57–1.36, P = 0.58). Our findings suggest that a sufficient EMS team (six EMS personnel) could improve the survival admission and discharge of OHCA patients compared to an insufficient EMS team (four or five EMS personnel). However, there was no significant difference in neurologic outcomes according to the number of EMS personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the risks of diabetes mellitus (DM) on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and to investigate whether the risks of DM on OHCA varied according to the diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of diabetes. We conducted a multicenter prospective case–control study in 17 University hospitals in Korea from September 2017 to December 2020. Cases were EMS-treated OHCA patients aged 20 to 79 with a presumed cardiac etiology. Community-based controls were recruited at a 1:2 ratio after matching for age, sex, and urbanization level of residence. A structured questionnaire and laboratory findings were collected from cases and controls. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the risk of DM on OHCA by characteristics. A total of 772 OHCA cases and 1544 community-based controls were analyzed. A total of 242 (31.3%) OHCAs and 292 (18.9%) controls were previously diagnosed with DM. The proportions of type I DM (10.7% vs. 2.1%) and insulin therapy (15.3% vs. 6.5%) were higher in OHCAs with DM than in controls with DM. The duration of DM was longer in OHCAs than in controls (median 12 vs. 7 years). DM was associated with an increased risk of OHCA (aOR (95% CI), 2.13 (1.64–2.75)). Compared to the no diabetes group, the risks of OHCA increased in the diabetes patients with type I DM (5.26 (1.72–16.08)) and type II DM group (1.63 (1.18–2.27)), a long duration of DM prevalence (1.04 (1.02–1.06) per 1-year prevalence duration), and a high HbA1c level (1.38 (1.19–1.60) per 1% increase). By treatment modality, the aOR (95% CI) was lowest in the oral hypoglycemic agent (1.47 (1.08–2.01)) and highest in the insulin (6.63 (3.04–14.44)) groups. DM was associated with an increased risk of OHCA, and the risk magnitudes varied according to the diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudemys concinna in Korea was sequenced and characterized. The mitochondrial genome is constituted of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes) and a noncoding region. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete mitochondrial genome showed that P. concinna has closer relationship with Chrysemys picta than Trachemys scripta elegans. This is the first case for complete mitochondrial genome from P. concinna in Korea, which will provide information for biogeographical studies and management plan for invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodissociation spectroscopy of mono‐hydrated aniline dimer (An2W+) cation was performed to determine its most stable structure and the charge resonance (CR) interaction therein. In its photodissociation action spectrum, two local excitation (LE) bands at ∼1.9 eV (656 nm) and >3.0 eV (<420 nm), previously assigned to A2A~2 ← X2B~1 and B2B~1 ← X2B~1 transition, respectively, for aniline dimer (An2+), were also observed for An2W+. On the other hand, the absorption band at ∼1.12 eV (1110 nm) from the CR interaction reported for An2+ disappeared in case of An2W+. Based on this infrared photodissociation action spectra supported by quantum chemical calculations, we suggest that the most stable structure of An2W+ maintains the stacked structure of An2+ but H2O molecule connected to the amino group of aniline molecule via hydrogen bonding plays a role to suppress the CR interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effects of the body mass index (BMI) on outcomes of patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest are controversial. Therefore, the current study investigated the association between the BMI and the favourable neurologic outcomes and survival to discharge of patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods: This multicentre, prospective, nationwide OHCA registry-based study was conducted using data from the Korean Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Consortium (KoCARC). We enrolled hospitals willing to collect patient height and weight and included patients who survived to the hospital between October 2015 and June 2018. The included patients were categorised into the underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (≥18.5 to < 25 kg/m2), overweight (≥25 to < 30 kg/m2), and obese groups (≥30 kg/m2) according to the BMI per the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The primary outcome was a favourable neurologic outcome; the secondary outcome was survival to discharge. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between BMI and outcomes. Results: Nine hospitals were enrolled; finally, 605 patients were included in our analysis and categorised per the WHO BMI classification. Favourable neurologic outcomes were less frequent in the underweight BMI group than in the other groups (p = 0.002); survival to discharge was not significantly different among the BMI groups (p = 0.110). However, the BMI classification was not associated with favourable neurologic outcomes or survival to discharge after adjustment in the multivariate model. Conclusion: The BMI was not independently associated with favourable neurologic and survival outcomes of patients surviving from OHCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Heart rate (HR), an essential vital sign that reflects hemodynamic stability, is influenced by myocardial oxygen demand, coronary blood flow, and myocardial performance. HR at the time of the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) could be influenced by the β1-adrenergic effect of the epinephrine administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and its effect could be decreased in patients who have the failing heart. We aimed to investigate the association between HR at the time of ROSC and the outcomes of adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. Methods. This study was a secondary analysis of a cardiac arrest registry from a single institution from January 2008 to July 2014. The OHCA patients who achieved ROSC at the emergency department (ED) were included, and HR was retrieved from an electrocardiogram or vital sign at the time of ROSC. The patients were categorized into four groups according to the HR (bradycardia (HR < 60), normal HR (60 ≤ HR ≤ 100), tachycardia (100 < HR < 150), and extreme tachycardia (HR ≥ 150)). The primary outcome was the rate of sustained ROSC and the secondary outcomes were the rate of one-month survival and six-month good neurologic outcome. Results. A total of 330 patients were included. In the univariate logistic regression model, the rate of sustained ROSC increased by 17% as HR increased by every 10 beats per minute (bpm) (odds ratio (OR), 1.171; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.077–1.274, p < 0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression model, extreme tachycardia was independently associated with a high probability of sustained ROSC compared to normal heart rate (OR, 15.96; 95% CI, 2.04–124.93, p = 0.008). Conclusion. Extreme tachycardia (HR ≥ 150) at the time of ROSC is independently associated with a high probability of sustained ROSC in nontraumatic adult OHCA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ischaemic tissue injury caused by tissue hypoperfusion is one of the major consequences of sepsis. Phosphate concentrations are elevated in ischaemic tissue injury. This study was performed to investigate the association of phosphate concentrations with mortality in patients with sepsis.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with sepsis conducted at an urban, tertiary care emergency department (ED) in Korea. Patients with sepsis arriving between March 2010 and April 2017 were stratified into four groups according to the initial phosphate concentration at presentation to the ED: group I (hypophosphataemia, phosphate <2 mg/dL), group II (normophosphataemia, phosphate 2-4 mg/dL), group III (mild hyperphosphataemia, phosphate 4-6 mg/dL), group IV (moderate to severe hyperphosphataemia, phosphate ≥6 mg/dL). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to evaluate the independent association of initial phosphate concentration with 28-day mortality.Results: Of the 3034 participants in the study, the overall mortality rate was 21.9%. The 28-day mortality rates were group I (hypophosphataemia) 14.6%, group II 17.4% (normophosphataemia), group III (mild hyperphosphataemia) 29.2% and group IV (moderate to severe hyperphosphataemia) 51.4%, respectively (p<0.001). In the multivariable analyses, patients with severe hyperphosphataemia had a significantly higher risk of death than those with normal phosphate levels (HR 1.59; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.05). Mortality in the other groups was not significantly different from mortality in patients with normophosphataemia.Conclusions: Moderate to severe hyperphosphataemia was associated with 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis. Phosphate level could be used as a prognostic indicator in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Refractory shockable rhythm has a high mortality rate and poor neurological outcome. Treatments for refractory shockable rhythm presenting after defibrillation and medical treatment are not definite. We conducted research on the application of double simultaneous defibrillation (DSiD) for refractory shockable rhythms. Methods. This is a retrospective pilot study performed using medical records from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017. The prephase was from January to December 2016. The post-phase was from January to December 2017. During the prephase, we conducted conventional defibrillation with one defibrillator, and during the post-phase, we conducted DSiD using two defibrillators. Primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included survival to hospital admission and good neurological outcome at 12 months. Statistical analysis was conducted using Fisher's exact test. Data were regarded statistically significant when p < 0.05. Result. A total of 38 patients were included. Twenty-one patients underwent conventional defibrillation, and 17 underwent DSiD. The DSiD group had a higher survival to admission rate (14/17 (82.4%) vs. 6/21 (28.6%), p = 0.001) and showed a trend for higher survival to discharge (7/17 (41.2%) vs. 3/21 (14.3%), p = 0.078). Good neurological outcome at 12 months of the DSiD group was higher than that of the conventional defibrillation group, but the difference was not statistically significant (5/17 (29.4%) vs 2/21 (9.5%), p = 0.207). Conclusion. In patients with refractory shockable rhythms, DSiD has increased survival to hospital admission and a trend of increased survival to hospital discharge. However, DSiD did not improve neurological outcome at 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose an advanced parameter-setting-free (PSF) scheme to solve the problem of setting the parameters for the harmony search (HS) algorithm. The use of the advanced PSF method solves the problems of the conventional PSF scheme that results from a large number of iterations and shows good results compared to fixing the parameters required for the HS algorithm. In addition, unlike the conventional PSF method, the advanced PSF method does not use additional memory. We expect the advanced PSF method to be applicable to various fields that use the HS algorithm because it reduces the memory utilization for operations while obtaining better results than conventional PSF schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2015 AHA guidelines recommend that amiodarone should be used for patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation (RVF). However, the optimal time interval between the incoming call and amiodarone administration (call-to-amiodarone administration interval) in RVF patients has not been investigated. We hypothesized that the time elapsed until amiodarone administration could affect the neurological outcome at hospital discharge in patients with RVF. Methods and results: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. One hundred thirty-four patients were enrolled. In univariate logistic regression, the probability of a good neurological outcome at hospital discharge decreased as the time elapsed until amiodarone administration increased (OR 0.89 [95% CI = 0.80–0.99]). In multivariate logistic regression, the patients who were administered amiodarone in less than 20 min showed higher rates of prehospital ROSC, survival at hospital arrival, any ROSC, survival at admission, survival to discharge, and good CPC at hospital discharge. The call-to-amiodarone administration interval of ≤20 min (OR 6.92, 95% CI 1.72–27.80) was the independent factor affecting the neurological outcome at hospital discharge. Conclusion: Early amiodarone administration (≤ 20 min) showed better neurological outcome at hospital discharge for OHCA patients who showed initial ventricular fibrillation and subsequent RVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes were prepared by changing coordinating ligands. Hexagonal cones presented UV and green (∼500 nm) emissions, which originated from excitons and defects, respectively. Oxygen vacancies were found to be major defects in the hexagonal cones. Blue emission at ∼440 nm was observed for hexagonal plates, and analyses of time-resolved photoluminescence spectra showed that two transitions were responsible for this blue emission, because transitions from Zni to the valence band (430 nm) and from Zni to VZn (480 nm) were distinguished by emission wavelengths and lifetimes. The visible emissions from defects were related to the roles of coordinating ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of the post-O2-annealing process on light emission from silicon nanocrystals. Using pulsed laser ablation in an O2-filled atmosphere, the SiOx (x<2) thin layers were synthesized prior to O2-annealing. We observed a strong photoluminescence from the silicon nanocrystals embedded in the annealed layers at 500 °C, which depended on the post-O2-annealing time. We also found that the interface property between the silicon nanocrystal and stoichiometric SiO2 matrix is critical for efficient light emission. The electroluminescence spectra in the visible range were obtained above the on-current density of 0.7 A/cm2 under several forward-bias voltages. The blueshift in the electroluminescence was attributed to the band-filling effect under high current injection mode. The external emission efficiency was estimated to be about 0.3% by using the band-filling model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photofragmentation of mass-selected aniline+(water)n (An+Wn, n=4–20) clusters is investigated over photon energies ranging from 1.65 to 4.66 eV by linear tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The aniline ring turns out to survive irradiation of photons, and most of the absorbed photon energy flows to the hydrogen-bonding networks to be used up for liberation of water molecules. The average number of ejected water molecules measured as a function of photon energy reveals that the loss of water molecules is a photoevaporation process. The distributions of internal energies for parent ions and binding energies of water molecules are estimated from the plots of photofragment branching ratio versus photon energy, which give nice Gaussian fits. Also, density functional theory calculations are performed to obtain optimized structures of isomers for An+Wn clusters and binding energies. The authors find that the An+W6 cluster has a highly symmetric structure and its binding energy in An+W6→An+W5+W stands out. This is in line with the experimental results showing that n=6 is a magic number in the mass distribution and An+W6 is relatively stable in metastable decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seo, H.J.; Park, S.J.; Park, S.M., and Seo, G.S., 2023. Preventing coastal accidents in Korea using correlation analysis between location, type, and cause of accident. In: Lee, J.L.; Lee, H.; Min, B.I.; Chang, J.-I.; Cho, G.T.; Yoon, J.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Multidisciplinary Approaches to Coastal and Marine Management. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 116, pp. 468-472. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Coastal accidents can occur during various coastal activities. Owing to an increase in leisure and industrial activities, the coastal activity area is expanding and the incidence of coastal accidents is increasing. To solve this problem, it is necessary to derive an optimal and efficient response plan that requires little manpower through a clear understanding of the characteristics and causes of accidents. To this end, this study classified accidents according to three criteria of location, type, and causes of accidents based on the coastal accident cases provided by the Korea Coast Guard and analyzed the correlation between each classification criteria by applying statistical techniques. On the west coast of Korea, where the tidal difference is large and it is highly correlated with isolation accidents caused by the tide, near sea rock and mudflats; on the east coast, where the frequency of high waves is high and it is highly correlated with falls or drift drowning accidents caused by waves near breakwaters and beaches. This correlation indicates that an effective proactive response is possible by identifying the type and cause of accidents by accident location. Coastal accidents can be reduced by eliminating coastal safety blind spots due to a lack of manpower through efficient management and supervision of coastal activity areas using the results of the correlation analysis between accident locations, types, and causes analyzed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Park, S.J.; Seo, H.J.; Park, S.M., and Park, S.H., 2023. Establishment of a risk assessment system for coastal activities based on statistical data. In: Lee, J.L.; Lee, H.; Min, B.I.; Chang, J.-I.; Cho, G.T.; Yoon, J.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Multidisciplinary Approaches to Coastal and Marine Management. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 116, pp. 458-462. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Coastal management begins with risk control, which is a collection of methods for evaluating the potential for harm and taking action to reduce or eliminate risk. Four methods of risk control are commonly employed: transferring, taking, avoiding, and reducing risk. These methods can be adjusted based on continuous monitoring. Risk assessment is the most commonly used method employed for the selection of risk-control measures. In this study, a risk-assessment-based information-provision method was proposed as a control measure for the risks that pose a threat to the safety of coastal users. The proposed risk-assessment method complements the current qualitative and subjective risk- assessment methods used by the Korea Coast Guard. A risk-assessment index and evaluation method were established to assess the risk grade of coastal activity areas managed by the Korean Coast Guard. This method was applied to 40 representative hazardous areas designated and managed by each regional office. By applying the established risk-assessment system, 11 sites were classified as grade 2, 25 as grade 3, 3 as grade 4, and 1 as grade 5. The risk grade of hazardous areas under the jurisdiction of the Korea Coast Guard Region-Central, which has a high rate of accidents and fatalities, was rated higher than that of other regional offices. The risk grade of each regional office, except for the central office, was rated between grades 2 and 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy was employed to examine the temporal properties of a plume formed by laser ablation of a graphite target in He, N2, and Ar background gases. Time-dependent spectroscopic temperatures of electronically excited C2 and CN molecules generated in the plume at different background gases and pressures were derived by simulation of the emission spectra. The rotational temperature of CN molecules was significantly higher than the vibrational temperature. This indicates that they are formed in the gas phase by the chemical reaction C2+N2→CN. At pressure above 0.5 Torr, the temperature in each background gas was apparently in the order of Ar>N2>He while there was no such gas dependence at 0.1 Torr. The expansion dynamics and cooling rate of the plume turned out to be highly dependent on the background gas and its pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinct hydrogen bonding patterns are predicted in the amide I and amide A vibrational bands of four dominant conformations of antamanide using anharmonic vibrational Hamiltonians constructed at the DFT and AM1 levels. We show how these conformations may be distinguished using coherent three pulse infrared measurements with several pulse polarization configurations in the amide I region. The amide A hydrogen bonded N-H stretching modes are highly localized and have conformation-dependent frequencies, but their anharmonicities are insensitive to local structure at the hydrogen bond distances in antamanide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrational exciton Hamiltonians for the amide I and amide A modes of both the α- and 3[sub 10]-helical conformations of a fifteen unit polyalanine oligomer CH[sub 3]-CO(Ala)[sub 15]-NHCH[sub 3] are constructed using density-functional calculations for smaller model peptides. Energy levels as well as the transition dipoles of all singly and doubly excited-state manifolds are calculated. A variety of C[sub 13]-substituted isotopic derivatives are examined with respect to their ability to reveal differences in local secondary structures in two-dimensional infrared spectra in the amide I region. Amide mode anharmonicities are predicted to be valid indicators of secondary helical structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass spectral distributions and time-of-flight spectra of C[sup +][sub n] (n = 1-24) ions escaping from a carbon plasma plume generated by laser (λ = 1064 nm) ablation of a graphite target are analyzed to shed light on their formation mechanisms, expansion dynamics, and laser-plume interaction. In particular, by shining the whole or a slice of the plume with a photodissociation laser (λ=266 nm) delayed with respect to the ablation laser, we examine the effects of the laser-plume interaction on the mass distribution as well as photodissociation channels of carbon-cluster cations. Also, we present experimental data that show a clear linear dependence of the velocities of C[sup +][sub n] ions on 1/&Mradic;. This result confirms that C[sup +][sub n] ions are mainly accelerated by a transient local electric field in the plume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a mass spectroscopic studies on a reactive laser ablation of YBa...Cu...O... in a pulsed oxygen jet. Ion mass spectra with oxygen jet on and off; Dependence of wavelength; Conclusion.

The purpose of this research was to contribute to the development of a resilience‐promoting programme for patients with chronic diseases. A systematic review of literature concerning resilience interventions for patients with chronic diseases was conducted by searching PubMed (including Medline), Science Direct, Web of Science, PsycARTICLES, CINAHL Plus, Embase, and the Cochrane Database for articles featuring the terms "resilience," "resiliency," "resilient," "cancer," "stroke," "heart disease," "diabetes" and "COPD" and published between 8 January 2017 and 15 January 2017. We included all English studies relevant to the topic; however, we excluded: (1) nonrandomised controlled trials and (2) those that mentioned the term "resilience" but did not apply it in their analysis. Seventeen studies—10 on cancer, four on cardiovascular diseases and three on diabetes—were deemed suitable for analysis. We found that, in these studies, (1) diverse definitions of resilience were applied, (2) various intervention durations were used and (3) complex programmes were applied within the resilience‐improving programmes. Our research encourages efforts to operationalise the construct of resilience, so it can be applied in clinical settings, and for the development of more systematic intervention programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogenous biomarkers remain at the forefront of early disease detection efforts, but many lack the sensitivities and specificities necessary to influence disease management. Here, we describe a cell-based in vivo sensor for highly sensitive early cancer detection. We engineer macrophages to produce a synthetic reporter on adopting an M2 tumor-associated metabolic profile by coupling luciferase expression to activation of the arginase-1 promoter. After adoptive transfer in colorectal and breast mouse tumor models, the engineered macrophages migrated to the tumors and activated arginase-1 so that they could be detected by bioluminescence imaging and luciferase measured in the blood. The macrophage sensor detected tumors as small as 25–50 mm3 by blood luciferase measurements, even in the presence of concomitant inflammation, and was more sensitive than clinically used protein and nucleic acid cancer biomarkers. Macrophage sensors also effectively tracked the immunological response in muscle and lung models of inflammation, suggesting the potential utility of this approach in disease states other than cancer. A cell-based sensor detects tumors with higher sensitivity than protein and nucleic acid biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]