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This study explored the anti-inflammatory effects of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), known as lixisenatide, on the eyes of early type 2 diabetic mice. Diabetic (db/db) mice were divided into three groups: GLP-1RA [lixisenatide (LIX)], insulin (INS) with controlled hyperglycemia based on the glucose concentration of lixisenatide, and diabetic control (D-CON). Nondiabetic control mice (db/dm) were also characterized for comparison. After 8 weeks of treatment, mRNA levels of inflammatory markers, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling, immunohistochemical staining; Western blot of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and thioredoxin-interacting protein; and retinal thickness were assessed in the central and peripheral neurosensory retina. LIX showed decreased immunohistochemical staining for both thioredoxin-interacting protein and GFAP in the central and peripheral neurosensory retina compared with D-CON and INS, and decreased expression of these proteins in the neurosensory retina and immunohistochemical staining in the optic nerve head for GFAP compared with D-CON. The inner nuclear layer in the peripheral retina in LIX was only thinner than those of D-CON and INS. In an early type 2 diabetic mouse model, lixisenatide treatment showed superior anti-inflammatory effects on the retina and optic nerve head independent of hyperglycemia. Thus, the neuroprotective effects of lixisenatide treatment in the peripheral inner nuclear layer should be evaluated in early type 2 diabetic retinopathy.

There have been many efforts to grow high-quality, single-crystalline graphene on a cheap substrate, such as a metal foil. However, control of nucleation and growth of individual flakes, as well as their seamless stitching, remains elusive. Here we demonstrate a new strategy to fast and facile synthesis of large scale single-crystal graphene on copper foil. Polycrystalline Cu foils were first converted to single-crystal Cu foils through high-temperature annealing processes. Then, a sodium chloride (NaCl) additive was introduced during chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene on the Cu foils. Investigation of early stage growth in this process suggests that the NaCl additive enhances nucleation events and depresses dendritic growth, producing high-density graphene flakes (GFs) with crystallographically well-defined edges: (i) rectangular-shaped GFs on Cu(100) and (ii) hexagonal-shaped GFs on Cu(111). Density functional theory calculations show that NaCl can assist in the elimination of remnant oxygen atoms on the Cu surface and promote epitaxial interactions between Cu and graphene. This behavior was further exploited to achieve large-scale single-crystal graphene through epitaxial, seamless stitching of hexagonal GFs within 90 s.

This study investigated the low-temperature ethanol steam reforming (LTESR) performance of a Pd0.01Zn0.29Mg0.7Al2O4 catalyst. Although it was present in a very small amount, the Pd component was the key to the partial CO-water gas shift and CO-methanation that, eventually, helped to increase the yield of H2 during LTESR. An 80% yield of H2 was maintained even after 30 h at 450 °C on the Pd0.01Zn0.29Mg0.7Al2O4 catalyst with 100% ethanol conversion. Furthermore, the spinel structure of the catalyst remained unchanged after the reaction, and there was no increase in size owing to particle-to-particle aggregation. This study demonstrated that the Pd and Zn components could be stably located in the spinel structure of the MgAl2O4 with no sintering of the particles. Moreover, the oxygen transfer capacity of the MgAl2O4 spinel structure helped maintain the catalytic performance for long time periods by transferring oxygen to the reduced catalytic metal species (Zn or Pd) during the reaction, even though this induced oxygen defects in the spinel crystal. Overall, improved catalyst activity and an extended catalyst lifespan were observed.

Background This study evaluated the clinical outcome of arthroscopic treatment for anterior shoulder dislocation in elite and professional baseball players. Methods This study included 51 baseball players who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair between 2008 and 2015. The follow-up duration was set at 24 months or longer, based on clinic visit or telephone survey. After surgery, players who played in 1 or more official games were considered to have returned to play (RTP), and those who participated in more than 10 official games were considered to have solidly returned to play (sRTP). The RTP and sRTP rates were analyzed by player position (pitcher, catcher, and in-fielder), and the period of RTP after surgery (rehabilitation period) was investigated. Results Of 51 baseball players (mean age, 20.9 years), 14 were pitchers, 6 were catchers, and 31 were in-fielders. Pitchers showed 64% RTP and 57% sRTP, catchers, 83% RTP and 83% sRTP, and in-fielders, 90% RTP and 90% sRTP. The overall RTP and sRTP rates were 82% and 80%, respectively. The average RTP period after surgery (rehabilitation period) was 8.4 months, with 9.6, 9.1, and 7.4 months for pitchers, catchers, and in-fielders, respectively. Conclusions The RTP after arthroscopic Bankart repair shows favorable results, with the nonthrowing shoulder and in-field position yielding the best results. Players undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair and the surgeon should be aware of the possible outcomes based on the throwing/nonthrowing arm and various positions.

Background Valganciclovir is widely used to prevent post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in kidney transplant patients. However, the currently used dose remains controversial because the continuous use of this drug decreases kidney function and can induce leukopenia. Objective The purpose of this study was to measure the appropriate dose of valganciclovir required to prevent CMV infection. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by using a random effects model. The Cochrane Central Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases were searched up to April 15, 2017. We conducted analysis on low-dose (450 mg) and standard-dose (900 mg) valganciclovir groups. Results After completion of the research, the analysis revealed that the glomerular filtration rate, graft loss, tacrolimus level, antibody-mediated rejection, and fungal and Candida infection rates did not differ between the 2 groups. However, the incidence of CMV tended to decrease in the low-dose group (0.584 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.352–0.967]; P = .036). The biopsy-proven rejection rate decreased by 0.427 times in the low-dose group compared with the standard-dose group (95% CI, 0.274–0.667; P = .002). Furthermore, the incidence of leukopenia decreased by 0.371 times in the low-dose group compared with the standard-dose group (95% CI, 0.264–0.523; P = .001). Conclusions The 450-mg dose of valganciclovir effectively prevented post-transplantation CMV infection and decreased drug-induced side effects such as leukopenia. In the future, the lower dose of valganciclovir should be considered to prevent CMV infection and enhance cost-effectiveness.

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can increase morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant (KT) patients. Chemoprophylaxis with valganciclovir (VGCV) is recommended for ABO-incompatible (ABOi) KT patients as it significantly reduces CMV disease and infection. The recommended dose of VGCV for prevention of CMV in a KT recipient is 900 mg once daily, and the treatment duration is 6 months. However, because it is expensive, sufficient amounts might not be administered. Methods We investigated whether ultralow-dose VGCV (450 mg every other day) and short dosing period (3 months) was sufficient to prevent CMV infection after ABOi KT. We retrospectively evaluated 74 adult CMV-seropositive donor/CMV-seropositive recipient (D+/R+) ABOi KT recipients from June 2009 to July 2016 who received ultralow-dose VGCV prophylaxis for 3 months. The primary outcome was occurrence of CMV infection. Secondary outcomes were leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Result All patients received intravenous rituximab 200 mg once and plasmapheresis for reduction of anti-A/B antibodies and interleukin-2 antibodies before undergoing ABOi KT. Mean prophylaxis and follow-up durations were 3 and 52 months, respectively. One patient died of bacterial pneumonia. Four patients lost graft function and were undergoing hemodialysis; 3 cases were caused by antibody-mediated rejection, and 1 was due to mechanical complication after surgery. Fortunately, CMV infection did not occur in any patient. Conclusion Ultralow-dose VGCV is an effective prophylaxis for D+/R+ ABOi KT recipients. Especially, ultralow-dose VGCV CMV infection prevention protocol in Asian populations reduced the side effects and cost.

This research focuses on the synergy of converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into methane (CH4) by simultaneously introducing light and heat as dynamic sources to activate the catalyst. A CaTiO3@Ni-Pt catalyst, loaded with 30.0 wt.% Ni and 1.0 wt.% Pt on a perovskite CaTiO3 support was introduced. The photo-thermal catalytic hybrid system has two features that distinguish it from other photo- or thermal-catalytic systems. First, unlike the CO2 thermal-methanation reaction where CO2 and H2 react at a molar ratio of 1:4, 2.0 mol of H2 was replaced with 2.0 mol H2O in the photo-thermal catalytic hybrid system compared to the thermal-methanation reaction requiring 4.0 mol of H2. Second, by loading Ni and Pt, which are catalytic active species with excellent CO2 and H2 adsorption abilities, the CO2 reduction (46.48%) was promoted and the CH4 selectivity (99.46%) in the product was increased compared to the photo-methanation reaction. The CaTiO3@Ni-Pt not only inhibited the recombination of the photo-generated charges, but also facilitated the adsorption of the reactants in the photo-thermal hybrid system. The quantum efficiency of the CaTiO3@Ni-Pt catalyst measured for the photo-thermal hybrid system steadily increased to 180 °C. Nevertheless, this study implies that a photo-thermal hybrid system can be useful to photo-reducing CO2 by adding a small amount of heat. From a thermal reaction standpoint, a photo-thermal hybrid system can be used to reduce the reaction temperature during CO2 thermal-methanation and to reduce the consumption of H2 in half.

There has been no study on radiologic changes after medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) reconstruction and related clinical features.Data from 39 baseball players who underwent MUCL reconstruction were collected and analyzed. The baseball players were classified into 2 groups according to the starting point of the humeral tunnel: (1) the lower tip of the medial epicondyle (group NA, n = 21) and (2) the remnant of the MUCL (group A, n = 18). Bone tunnel characteristics and changes were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) at 3 and 9 months postoperatively. Outcome measures consisted of the visual analog scale, range of motion (ROM), the Conway scale, and the presence of ulnar nerve irritation postoperatively.The mean diameter of the humeral entry was 4.0 mm (range, 3.4-5.1 mm) on the first CT scan, which increased to 5.5 mm (range, 3.2-7.2 mm) on the follow-up CT scan (P .001). The mean diameter of the ulnar tunnel was 2.8 mm (range, 1.1-3.3 mm) on the first CT scan, which decreased to 1.6 mm (range, 0-4.3 mm) on the follow-up CT scan (P .001). The between-group comparison revealed no differences in the changes in the diameter of the humeral and ulnar tunnels. A statistically significant correlation was not found between athletic performance measured by the Conway scale and the radiologic changes on CT evaluation (P = .182). Group A showed improvement in extension from 7° preoperatively to 1° postoperatively (P .001) and in flexion from 126° preoperatively to 136° postoperatively (P .001), while group NA did not achieve statistical significance in ROM improvement after the operation.Humeral tunnel widening was commonly observed, while the ulnar tunnel was maintained or became narrowed conversely. The humeral tunnel placements did not affect tunnel changes after the surgical procedure; however, MUCL reconstruction with the anatomic location of the humeral tunnel yielded substantial improvement in elbow ROM.

Background Rejection and infection can occur after kidney transplantation and are important factors in preserving graft kidney function. The use of immunosuppressant agents in transplantation is therefore important, and the question of which induction therapy should be used as an immunosuppressant is controversial. Objective The goal of this study was to assess the comparative benefits and harms of various maintenance immunosuppressive induction agents in adults undergoing kidney transplantation by using a network meta-analysis and to generate rankings of the different immunosuppressive regimens according to their safety and efficacy. Methods CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and trial registers were searched until May 2017 to identify randomized controlled trials on immunosuppression for kidney transplantation. Results Twenty-seven studies involving 4484 participants were eligible for analysis. Induction and maintenance treatments were administered for 12 months. There was no evidence of differences in outcomes between therapies on all-cause mortality, graft loss, cytomegalovirus, BK virus, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and biopsy-proven acute rejection. However, compared with intravenous basiliximab (an interleukin-2 receptor antagonist [IL-2RA]), the most effective treatments to decrease biopsy-proven acute rejection were intravenous alemtuzumab and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG). The odds ratios were 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29–40.78) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.42–0.95), respectively. As a side effect, rATG was accompanied by more bacterial infection than the IL-2RA (OR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.01–2.8]). Conclusions The determination of induction in kidney transplantation is important for future prognosis of the graft kidney. Alemtuzumab and rATG exhibited lower biopsy-proven acute rejection than the IL-2RA. As a side effect, rATG produced frequent bacterial infections.

This study has investigated the propane steam reforming (PSR) performance of M/Ni/YSZ catalysts (M = Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag) for effective hydrogen production. To improve the catalytic performance, particularly with respect to the duration of the catalyst, YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) is used as a support and noble metals such as Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag are introduced as promoters. YSZ is used to suppress carbon deposition as it provides lattice oxygen to carbon coke on the catalyst. Noble metals provide synergy, assisting Ni metal in improving dehydrogenation. Preferentially, the PSR performance of 1.0 wt.% M/Ni/YSZ catalysts are measured to find which noble metal is suitable as a promoter. The result confirms that the Rh component is the best promoter for M/Ni/YSZ. This study also demonstrates the appropriate amount of Rh to use, based on the PSR performance over Ni/YSZ and 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 wt.% Rh/Ni/YSZ for 100 h. The results confirm that Ni/YSZ becomes deactivated at 76 h, but the catalysts with the Rh promoter have much higher durability. Thus, this study concludes that 0.5 wt.% Rh/Ni/YSZ is the best catalyst because it does not have excessive Rh content and also does not show any discernable decrease in the PSR performance. Moreover, the Rh/Ni/YSZ catalysts had a higher resistance to carbon deposition because of the presence of the Rh promoter, which could improve lattice oxygen mobility of the Rh/Ni/YSZ catalyst.

Background Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction has become increasingly popular in elite athletes. However, the prevalence of heterotopic ossification (HO) formation after UCL reconstruction has not yet been reported. We sought to determine the prevalence of HO formation after UCL reconstruction and the clinical outcomes following HO treatment. Materials and Methods From October 2005 to April 2014, 179 patients underwent primary UCL reconstruction. Of the 179 patients, 161 with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate HO formation and clinical outcomes. Results Among 161 patients, HO was detected in 8 cases (5%). Of these 8 patients, 2 were asymptomatic and another 2 complained about transient ulnar neuropathy. The remaining 4 patients had pain; 2 were treated with open excision, and 1 underwent arthroscopic excision. The odds of HO in patients in whom transient ulnar neuropathy develops after UCL reconstruction are 6 times higher than those without transient ulnar neuropathy (odds ratio, 5.957; 95% confidence level, P = .04). Of the 8 patients, 7 returned to the same level or a higher level of competition. HO was found, on average, 5 months (range, 3-9 months) after UCL reconstruction. Conclusion The prevalence of HO formation was approximately 5% after UCL reconstruction and increased with transient ulnar neuropathy. After UCL reconstruction, the surgeon should carefully observe HO formation, especially in the early stages after the operation. With appropriate treatment, the clinical outcomes of HO treatment after UCL reconstruction are favorable.

In this work, the Cu (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mol.-%)-incorporated ZnO nanoparticles (CuxZnyO) are prepared by a conventional hydrothermal method. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns confirm that Cu ion is stably inserted into the framework of ZnO, and the crystallite size decreases as the amount of Cu ion increases. With the insertion of Cu ions into ZnO, the recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers is found to be low which in turn increases the photocatalytic activity. The H2 production activity of Cu-inserted ZnO catalysts is higher than the pure ZnO catalyst. Among the different samples, the Cu0.01Zn0.99O catalyst having a 1.0 mol.-% of Cu shows the higher H2 production activity. The enahanced H2 production activity of CuxZnyO catalysts is attributed to the longer life-time of excited electrons during the photocatalytic reaction and the decreased electron-hole recombination rate.

Much attention has been paid to the development of environmentally friendly next-generation energy sources, such as hydrogen gas. In this context, propane steam reforming has emerged as one of the most promising approaches. Here, we report the synthesis of various Ni2−xPdxMnO4/γ-Al2O3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05) catalysts by sol-gel and impregnation methods and their application in steam reforming of propane (H2O/C3H8 = 6/1), doubly promoted by Pd and Ni. The introduction of Pd in Ni2−xPdxMnO4/γ-Al2O3 improved catalyst dispersion and reduction of Ni oxides. Ni2−xPdxMnO4/γ-Al2O3 catalysts showed different adsorption abilities for C3H8, CO, and H2O gases, which resulted in different catalytic behaviors in steam reforming of propane. This was presumably dependent on the Pd content, and the optimal Pd mole concentration was found to be 4%. Complete conversion of propane and the highest hydrogen selectivity were achieved over Ni1.96Pd0.04MnO4/γ-Al2O3 at 700 °C. The presence of Pd decreased the evolution of CO, which is responsible for catalyst degradation, and the catalyst maintained a high performance even after five catalytic cycles.

The macromolecular composition of phytoplankton communities and the proximate composition of zooplankton communities were measured monthly in the southwestern East/Japan Sea from April to November 2014 in order to identify seasonal changes in, and relationships among, the biochemical compositions in both phytoplankton and zooplankton. The carbohydrate content of phytoplankton was highest in June, whereas the protein content was highest in August and lipids were highest in April. Overall, carbohydrates were dominant (53.2 ± 12.5%) in the macromolecular composition of phytoplankton during the study period. This composition is believed to result from the dominance of diatoms and/or nutrient-depleted conditions. In comparison, the protein level of zooplankton was highest in November, whereas lipids were slightly higher in May than other months. Overall, proteins were the dominant organic compounds (47.9±8.6% DW) in zooplankton communities, whereas lipids were minor components (5.5±0.6% DW). The high protein content of zooplankton might be related to the abundance of copepods, whereas the low lipid content might be due to a relatively high primary production that could provide a sufficient food supply for zooplankton so that they do not require high lipid storage. A significant positive correlation (r=0.971, n=7, p

Korea-Russia joint expeditions have been conducted mainly in the less studied Russian sector of the East/Japan Sea to understand the physical and ecological structures. In this study, the carbon uptake rates of phytoplankton measured in 2012 (middle-late October) and 2015 (middle April-early May) were analyzed to understand seasonal and spatial distributions of phytoplankton production, using a 13C-15N dual isotope tracer technique. The water columns in the euphotic layers were well mixed during our cruise periods in both years. The water column-integrated chl-a concentrations (mean ± S.D. = 2.28 ± 1.47 mg m−3) in 2015 was significantly higher (t-test, p 20 μm) was observed near the Russian coast. The daily carbon uptake rates in this study were 180.5 and 441.6 mg C m−2 d−1 in 2012 and 2015, respectively which are significantly (t-test, p < 0.01) lower than the averaged values previously reported in the East/Japan Sea (863 ± 679.6 mg C m−2 d−1). The potential reasons for the lower rate in this study are discussed. The small phytoplankton contribution (47.4%) averaged from the two different cruises in this study is consistent with the result (47%) reported in temperate regions. Moreover, a significantly (t-test, p < 0.01) lower contribution of small phytoplankton in total primary production than total phytoplankton biomass in this study is consistent with the results from other regions. Lower total primary production might be expected due to increasing contribution of small phytoplankton under warmer conditions.

The East/Japan Sea (EJS) where is surrounded by the Korean peninsula, the Japanese islands, and the Russian coast has been experiencing a large change in physicochemical properties. Based on biochemical composition analysis (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), the current qualitative status of phytoplankton was identified in the northern EJS from two different sampling seasons (fall and spring in 2012 and 2015, respectively). The average chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration integrated from the euphotic depths was significantly higher in 2015 (99.3 ± 69.2 mg m−2) than 2012 (21.5 ± 6.7 mg m−2). Large phytoplankton (> 2 µm) were predominant in 2015 accounting for 64.5 ± 19.7% whereas small-size phytoplankton (0.7–2 µm) were dominant (49.1 ± 17.5%) in 2012. The biochemical compositions of phytoplankton were predominated by lipids (42.6 ± 7.8%) in 2012 whereas carbohydrate composition largely contributed (53.2 ± 11.7%) to the total biochemical composition in 2015, which is mainly due to different nutrient availabilities and growth stages. Interestingly, the averaged FM concentrations and calorific values for phytoplankton based on the biochemical compositions had similar values between the two years, although the integrated chl-a concentrations were substantially different between 2012 and 2015. In terms of different cell sizes of phytoplankton, we found that small phytoplankton assimilate more FM and calorific energy per unit of chl-a concentration than total phytoplankton. Our results are meaningful for the understanding of future marine ecosystems where small phytoplankton will become dominant at a scenario of ongoing warmer oceans.

Nanoparticles of the p-type semiconductor nickel sulfide are grown on a highly aligned n-type TiO 2 film. Using XRD, XPS, EDS, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, photocurrent density, and CO 2 -TPD, the physicochemical characteristics of the p-n heterojunction NiS-sensitized TiO 2 films are investigated. The highest photocurrent is obtained for the optimized 0.10 M NiS-sensitized TiO 2 film, which resulted in eventually decreasing the electron-hole recombination during CO 2 photoreduction. The NiS-sensitized TiO 2 film exhibits superior photocatalytic behavior compared to that of a pure TiO 2 film. A model for investigating the catalytic activity of the NiS-sensitized TiO 2 film for CO 2 photoreduction is proposed.

Tendinopathy of the long head of the biceps is often found as an intra-articular pathology in the glenohumeral joint. Because long head of the biceps lesions are common, surgical intervention to properly manage the long head of the biceps has become an important issue. Both tenodesis and tenotomy have been shown to provide benefits in biceps long head tendinopathy. But because of concerns about muscle power reduction, cramping, and “Popeye's deformity,” which may result from biceps tenotomy, biceps tenodesis is a good option for treating biceps lesions. Here, we describe a time-saving, simple, and secure biceps tenodesis method during rotator cuff repairs, which is a combination of an adjacent soft-tissue tenodesis and a bony suprapectoral tenodesis, by performing a combined tenodesis (soft + bony), and we believe that the shoulder joint will gain more strength and loosening complications will be reduced.

Purpose To describe the findings of enhanced depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the lamina cribrosa (LC) in glaucoma and pachychoroid spectrum diseases associated with peripapillary retinoschisis. Design Retrospective, observational case series. Participants A total of 16 patients from 1 institution. Methods Detailed medical case histories, optic disc and retinal imaging with EDI using the Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), and clinical course were reviewed for patients with peripapillary retinoschisis without a known predisposing condition. Main Outcome Measures Clinical features and findings of the EDI OCT. Results Among the 16 eyes with peripapillary retinoschisis that had abnormal findings on EDI of the LC, 8 had glaucoma and 8 had pachychoroid spectrum diseases, including chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) (6 eyes), small pigment epithelium detachment (1 eye), and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) (1 eye). The abnormal LC findings were central or peripheral focal LC defects in eyes with glaucoma and LC disinsertions or peripheral focal LC defects in eyes with pachychoroid spectrum diseases. Central LC defects were related to inner layer retinoschisis, whereas LC disinsertions and peripheral LC defects were related to outer layer retinoschisis. The peripapillary retinoschisis did not show a topographic association with the underlying chronic CSC- or PCV-associated lesions. In 6 treated eyes with pachychoroid, peripapillary retinoschisis resolved along with subretinal fluid after anti–vascular endothelial growth factor injection in 4 eyes, whereas retinoschisis persisted after the resolution of subretinal fluid in 2 eyes. Conclusions Enhanced depth imaging OCT of the LC demonstrated alterations associated with peripapillary retinoschisis, pachychoroid spectrum diseases, and glaucoma.

Bi ions were inserted into a TiO2 framework in order improve the CO2 reduction. The x-mol% Bi ion-incorporated TiO2s were prepared by a conventional sol–gel method, and characterized by XRD, TEM, UV–visible spectroscopy, photocurrent spectroscopy, and CO2-TPD. The adsorption of CO2 was significantly increased on Bi–TiO2s, which demonstrated superior photocatalytic behavior compared to that of pure TiO2. The 5.0 mol% Bi–TiO2 produced 3400 μmol gcat−1 L−1 CH4 gases after an 8 h reaction. The photocatalytic activity was dramatically enhanced by the improved effective CO2 gas adsorption and by the inhibited recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs due to the enhanced charge separation.

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases which catalyze a remarkable variety of oxidative transformation are of exceptional interest for the synthesis of fine chemicals. However, due to the instability and requirement of expensive cofactor, P450s have yet to be extensively used for industry. Here, we developed a new platform that combines a solar-driven cofactor regeneration and immobilization of P450 on biopolymer. Through photochemical cofactor regeneration using eosin Y as a photosensitizer, P450-P(3HB) complex successfully catalyzed a O -dealkylation reaction. Furthermore, using the P450-P(3HB) complex and a solar-tracking module, we achieved a P450-catalyzed reaction under natural sunlight for four consecutive days in a preparative scale.

Little information on phytoplankton is currently available for Garolim and Asan bays, which are important spawning and nursery grounds for various commercial fish. The objectives of this study were to investigate the spatial and seasonal variations in the biochemical components (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) and primary production by phytoplankton and to determine the major environmental factors controlling the variations in Garolim and Asan bays. All major inorganic nutrients were seasonally available to phytoplankton although PO4 concentrations were relatively lower than those of other nutrients. The chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration measured in this study was within the range reported previously and the phytoplankton community was mostly dominated by micro- and nano-phytoplankton (approximately 80 %). Among the different biochemical compositions, carbohydrates were the most dominant throughout our observation period. As a nitrogen source for phytoplankton growth, ammonium was more important compared to nitrate in Garolim and Asan bays because of a significantly high uptake rate of the ammonium observed in this study. The overall mean areal daily carbon uptake rate (238.8 ± 393.3 mg C m−2 d−1) measured in this study is within the range in various bays and coastal waters in Korea. The concentrations of SiO2, NO2+NO3 and micro-sized chl-a were found to be major factors for the variation in the biochemical compositions of phytoplankton. By comparison, the nano-sized chl-a concentration, NH4 concentration and temperature were observed to be major factors in the variation in the carbon uptake rate of phytoplankton in Garolim and Asan bays during our observation period. Further studies on macromolecular compositions and primary production from different cell-sized phytoplankton are warranted for a better understanding their potential effects on marine ecosystems.

Bacterial cellulose consisting of pure cellulose nanofibers, is a promising biomaterial with versatile applications. The primary producer is Komagataeibacter xylinus, however, its use is limited because the bacteria undergo irreversible conversion into a non-cellulose-producing mutant (Cel-) during shaking cultivation. Here, by investigating the bcs operon in Cel- mutants, we found that an IS element-inserted mutation in bcsA, is responsible for the conversion into Cel-. To prevent IS element insertion into bcsA, putative IS element recognition sequences were modified. As a result, the engineered strain retained its own bcsA gene over seven sub-cultivations, and showed 1.7-fold higher productivity than wild-type strains without any differences of physical and chemical properties.

Here, we investigated the elemental (C/N ratio) and isotopic signatures (δ13C) and major biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) and their relative abundance (i.e., the biochemical composition) in particulate organic matter (POM) to assess their origin and fate in the Laptev and western East Siberian seas during late summer/fall of 2015. In addition, we compared our results with the summer data of 2013 collected from Laptev and northwestern East Siberian seas. In accordance with the observed hydrological structure (i.e., a northward, warmer, diluted freshwater plume than previously observed in 2013), the more depleted δ13C (−28.2 ± 0.9‰) and higher C/N ratio (10.8 ± 2.0) than those of 2013 signalled that fluvially released terrestrial organic carbon (TerrOC) was the main source of the POM, unlike in 2013, when phytoplankton was the dominant source (δ13C = −24.9 ± 1.0‰, C/N ratio = 7.6 ± 2.4; Ahn et al., 2019). During the offshore transport of heterogeneous TerrOC, carbohydrates seem to be the primary contributor to the bulk POM as a result of selective degradation and hydrodynamic sorting. Despite the TerrOC-dominated system in 2015, some marine influence was also found. The estimated phytoplankton biomass was low and comparable among the study sites. In addition, the presence of resting spores and high ammonium concentrations within the water column may suggest senescent and, to some extent, degrading conditions of the resident phytoplankton. In this regard, carbohydrate concentrations and freshwater content were significantly correlated (r = 0.79, p

We propose a novel wallpapering-inspired strategy to create wrinkles in a desired location and direction of single-layer graphene (Gr). The key to controlling the wrinkles is to regulate the permeation and release of solution through a regular array of holes between the substrate surface and Gr-based thin membrane (Gr/Cu in the first stage and Gr in the second stage). Microscopic analysis showed that neighboring holes were interconnected by straightened wrinkles with a width of 300–500 nm and height of 10–20 nm, while surface corrugations (e.g., ripples and wrinkles) were suppressed on the planar regions surrounded by wrinkles. Wrinkling mechanism was further verified by in-situ optical microscopy and comparative analysis of Gr/Cu ripples and Gr wrinkles. Our approach is simple yet universally applicable to diverse types of thin membranes, thereby offering a robust and versatile route to engineering properties of atomically thin materials.

It is hypothesized that the proportion of small phytoplankton increases if the water temperature increases. However, limited information on the biochemical compositions of small phytoplankton and their ecological contributions is currently available for estuary and coastal environments. In the present study, our goal is to determine the roles of small phytoplankton under different environmental conditions, which influence higher trophic consumers. Water samples were obtained in the Gwangyang Bay, Korea from 2012 to 2014. The contribution of small phytoplankton to the total chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration increased from the first period (October 2012–April 2013) to the following period (August 2013–April 2014), which was mainly due to lower nutrient inputs available to phytoplankton because of decreasing river input. Based on biochemical compositions (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), the overall contributions of small phytoplankton to the total food material (FM) and caloric content were significantly higher than the chl-a contribution of small phytoplankton. This result indicates that the small phytoplankton assimilated more FM and energy per unit of chl-a concentration compared to those of the large phytoplankton. These findings reveal that the potential impacts of river inputs on phytoplankton cell size and the photosynthetic biochemical composition of this primary food source should be considered in coastal management plans for anthropogenic influences, such as dam constructions.

Biological nitrogen ( N 2 ) fixation, a fundamental step in aquatic and terrestrial N cycles, is an important process through which “new” reactive nitrogen (N) is produced. The role of N 2 fixation in fueling the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) is one of the major concerns in the present scenario. Since N 2 fixation occurs under highly specific environmental conditions, determining the suitability of various ecosystems for potential N 2 fixation is important. The introduction of 15N2 bubble experiments in 1995 has led to significant N 2 fixation rate estimates from various parts of the world oceans; however, Korean coastal waters, which are prone to HABs, remained unstudied. The present study aimed to construct a research note on N 2 fixation in the Korean coastal waters on the basis of a preliminary data set of N 2 fixation rates (range; 0.31–2.35 nmol N L−1 h−1) obtained from the coastal northwestern East/Japan Sea. The results indicate that N 2 fixation is not currently a significant N source in the northwestern East/Japan Sea. However, the possibility of N 2 fixers being a future significant N source and a fuel for HABs in the East/Japan Sea under favorable environmental conditions cannot be ruled out.

For over 2 decades, Escherichia coli has been successfully used for the production of various recombinant proteins. However, several technical limitations have influenced the extent of recombinant protein expression in the E. coli host because of (i) heterologous protein accumulation often observed in inactive inclusion bodies either in the cytoplasm or periplasm, or (ii) lytic activity of recombinant proteins, which causes cell lysis, that hinder high production yield. We developed a novel strategy for the efficient production of aggregation-prone proteins and lytic enzymes in the E. coli host. For this purpose, we used an anchored periplasmic expression (APEx) system, in which target proteins are produced in the periplasm and tethered on the inner membrane. Protein aggregation and lytic activity can be prevented through anchoring of individual proteins to the inner membrane. Two model proteins (aggregation-prone human leptin and lytic Pseudomonas fluorescens SIK W1 lipase) were examined, and both proteins were successfully produced and anchored to the inner membrane under optimized culture conditions. Upon expression, the inner membrane-anchored proteins were subjected to simple purification procedures; the proteins were confirmed to be of high purity and bioactivity.

A generalized multi-objective optimization method making use of genetic algorithm (GA) is introduced, in order to simultaneously improve the riding comfort and the durability of run-flat tire by optimally tailoring the shape and stiffness of the sidewall insert rubber. The sensitivity analysis invoking the CPU time-consuming finite element analyses is replaced with the genetic evolution and the fitness of each genome in the population is evaluated by utilizing the response surfaces of objective functions approximated by ANN. It is confirmed through the numerical experiment that a number of Pareto solutions of the shape and stiffness of the sidewall insert rubber for different combinations of weighting factors can be successfully obtained. As well, the reliability of the Pareto solutions has been justified from the comparison with the direct finite element analysis.

Radiation dose can be determined with the radiation dosimeter. Recently, hand-held radioisotope identifier is being developed by many researchers to measure the radiation dose and to determine the type of the radioisotope. New design concept of the radioisotope identifier is introduced in this work. In this design, one can measure the radiation dose and the type of the radioisotope, and one can also determine the direction where the radiation comes. The hand-held radioisotope identifier is based on cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector. The detection principle is from the change of the energy spectrum as the direction of the incident radiation is varied. EGSnrc Monte Carlo simulation is done to calculate the energy spectrum of the CZT detector, and the result is compared with the measured one. The energy spectra are calculated when the gamma-ray is incident on the detection at different directions. The simulation results show the change of the spectrum shape as the incident radiation comes from different directions. The calculation is also done with different radiation energies and detector sizes. A prototype radioisotope identifier is being developed at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). This work would be helpful to develop next generation radiation dosimeter.

Si 3 N 4 whiskers were synthesized by the carbothermal reduction process in porous SiC bodies. The SiC bodies had a sponge microstructure with pore sizes of approximately 600 μm. The raw materials for the Si 3 N 4 whiskers were powder mixtures of Si 3 N 4 , SiO 2 and Si for silicon and phenolic resin for carbon. Cobalt was used as a metal catalyst. The carbothermal reaction was performed at 1400 °C or 1500 °C for 1 or 2 h. The α-Si 3 N 4 whiskers grew inside the SiC pores by the VLS process, and their diameters ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 μm. The length of the grown Si 3 N 4 whiskers was over 100 μm and their growth direction was [100].

Summary Paragonimiasis is an infectious disease caused by Paragonimus westermani and usually manifests as pulmonary disease. Cutaneous paragonimiasis is very rare, and the correct diagnosis is delayed in most cases. Here we report two cases of cutaneous paragonimiasis with pulmonary lesion in Korea. The first case presented as a chest wall mass and pleural effusion with no lung lesions on chest radiographs or computed tomography. Biopsied materials showed fibrosis and eosinophilic inflammation. A definite diagnosis was made by identifying eggs of P. westermani in the sputum and specific antibody in the serum by ELISA. The second case manifested as multiple lung lesions and two subcutaneous nodules in the left lateral thigh and left flank area. Excision biopsy of the subcutaneous nodules identified adult worm of P. westermani with surrounding eosinophilic granulomas.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the rate-limiting enzyme of heme catabolism, is known to modulate various cellular functions, including cytokine production, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, in stress-related conditions. However, the role of HO-1 in the auditory system remains elusive. Herein, we demonstrate that pharmacologic induction of HO-1 along with catalytic activation significantly suppressed apoptosis of HEI-OC1 cells induced by cisplatin. Studies of ectopic expression of pcDNA3-HO-1 and siRNA of HO-1 further revealed the protective role of HO-1 against cisplatin in HEI-OC1 cells. Among the catabolic metabolites of HO-1, both carbon monoxide (CO) and bilirubin were directly involved in the protective role of HO-1 against cisplatin through inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, pharmacological induction of HO-1 completely prevented the destruction of outer hair cell arrays by cisplatin through a CO-dependent mechanism in organotrophic culture of the rat primary organ of Corti explants. These results suggest that HO-1 may serve as a safeguard of auditory sensory hair cells against a variety of challenges of oxidative stress, including noise trauma, presbycusis, and ototoxic drugs, respectively.

The phase behavior and separation dynamics have been investigated in blends of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), curing agent methylene dianiline (MDA), and a reactive liquid rubber (R45EPI) through application of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), one- and two-dimensional light scattering, and optical microscopy. DSC analysis indicates that the system consists of three reactions: the self-condensations of DGEBA and R45EPI, as well as a cross-reaction between the two constituents. Observation of the dynamics of the 50/25.4/50 DGEBA/MDA/R45EPI system reveals that an initial phase separation is governed by the dominant self-curing reaction of DGEBA, followed by a phase dissolution characterized by a broadening of the interfacial regions catalyzed by a cross-reaction between the two species. A subsequent phase separation occurs at late stages since the copolymerization reaction does not proceed to completion. On the other hand, by changing the ratio of the beginning constituents to 70/25.4/30 DGEBA/MDA/R45EPI, the dissolution phenomena is not observed resulting from an even more dominant DGEBA/MDA condensation reaction. It is demonstrated that alterations in the initial compositional ratio greatly affect the phase separation dynamics of the system.

Electron beam decomposition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was studied in order to obtain information for developing effective treatment method of off-gases from industries. We have examined the combination of electron beam and catalyst honeycomb which is either 1% platinum based or ceramic honeycomb- based aluminum oxide, using a hybrid reactor in order to improve removal efficiency and CO 2 formation; and to suppress undesirable by-product formation e.g. O 3 , aerosol, H x C y . , and tar. The experiments were conducted using a pilot-scale treatment system (maximum capacity; 1800 N m 3 /h) that fitted the field size to scale up from the traditional laboratory scale system for VOC removal with electron beam irradiation. Toluene was selected as a typical VOC that was irradiated to investigate product formation, effect of ceramic and catalyst, and factors effecting overall efficiency of degradation. Styrene was selected as the most odorous compound among the VOCs of interest. It was found that VOCs could be destroyed more effectively using a hybrid system with catalyst bed than with electron beam irradiation only.

It is well established that nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide radicals play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and fever. This study is undertaken to address whether the methanol extract of Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora root, a traditional medicine as an antipyretic, modulates the generation of NO and superoxide in IFN-gamma primed or polymyristic acetate (PMA) stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. The generation of NO as well as the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein from IFN-gamma primed RAW 264.7 cells is markedly decreased by the methanol extract in a dose dependent manner. However, the methanol extract does not affect the viability of RAW 264.7 cells, as assessed by methylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In addition, the methanol extract suppresses the generation of superoxide in PMA-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a dose and a time dependent manner. Taken together, anti-pyretic effects of Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora root extract could result from direct suppression of NO and decreased superoxide generation.

G A A b st ra ct s stage IV. RESULTS: All pancreatic tumors were visualized by HIFU ultrasound monitor system. Treatment data in Stage III and IV were followed; mean tumor size was 31.8 vs 30.1 mm, mean treatment sessions: 2.6 vs 2.7 times, mean total treatment time: 2.7 vs 2.2 hours, mean total number of irradiation: 2801 vs 1769, respectively. There was no significant difference in treatment data between two groups. The effects of HIFU therapy in Stage III and IV were the following; the rate of complete tumor ablation was 87.5 vs 71.4%, the rate of symptom relief effect was 80 vs 56%, the effectiveness of primary lesion was CR:0, PR:2, SD:13, PD:1 vs CR:0, PR:2, SD:10, PD:2, and primary disease control rate (DCR) more than SD was 93.8% vs 78.6%. Mean survival time (MST) after HIFU therapy was 14.1 vs 7.2 month, respectively (p,0.01, p=0.0009). MST after diagnosis as PC was 32.4 vs 14.8 month, respectively (p,0.01, p=0.002). Combination therapy of HIFU with chemotherapy in Stage III was better result than common GEM single agent chemotherapy in our hospital. (MST: 14.9month). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that HIFU therapy has the potential of new method of combination therapy for non-metastatic PC.