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Background and aims: The impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis on long-term outcomes of ulcerative colitis (UC) flares remains controversial. Methods: A total of 257 UC patients with moderate-to-severe flares were observed for a mean follow-up of 41.2 months. CMV colitis was defined as histopathologic confirmation of CMV inclusions obtained from macroscopic endoscopic lesions in patients with UC flares. An independent gastrointestinal pathologist prospectively reviewed all specimens. A poor outcome was defined as any of hospitalization, colectomy or death during the follow-up period. Results: The prevalence of CMV colitis was 14% (36/257) over the 10-year study period (2007–2016). When compared to the controls, patients with CMV colitis were characterized by older age, higher disease activity, endoscopic deep ulcerations and more frequent use of immunosuppressive drugs (all p p Conclusions: True CMV colitis is a poor prognostic indicator among patients with UC flares. An effective strategy for managing recurrent CMV colitis is urgently needed (KCT0003296).

Private governments are organized by residents to resolve collective action problems in neighborhoods and provide services that are public in nature for the community residents. This article builds knowledge of private governments by examining apartment complexes in Seoul, South Korea, and explores the determinants of citizen engagement in neighborhood associations. Apartment complexes in Seoul are forming physical neighborhoods that make its segregated life boundary distinct. This research proposes that the neighborhood associations in Seoul may create social spaces where people pursue human values and social goods and promote civic engagement in the community. To explain factors that affect residents who participate in neighborhood associations, we analyzed the Apartment Community Survey in Seoul. The results indicate that residents who participate in social groups and community programs and live in communities for a long time are more likely to participate in neighborhood associations

Long-term antiviral therapy decreases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), however, it cannot eliminate the risk. We investigated the incidence of HCC at different stages of liver cirrhosis (LC) and identified clinical predictors for HCC development during antiviral therapy.The data from 356 treatment-naïve patients aged 40 to 69 years without a history of HCC who had received entecavir for ≥6 months were collected retrospectively. The incidence of HCC was evaluated in patients with CHB only, with LC without varices (stage 1), with varices (stage 2), and with ascites (stage 3).The median follow-up period was 3.6 years. In total, 45 patients (12.6%) developed HCC. The annual incidence rates of HCC in patients with CHB only or LC in stages 1, 2, and 3 were 0.4%, 2.6%, 9.8%, and 6.7%, respectively. In multivariate analyzes, LC at stage 2 (hazard ratio [HR] 17.16, 95% confidence interval [C.I.] 3.93-75.01, p .001), alcohol consumption (HR 3.84, 95% C.I. 1.99-7.39, p .001), and older age (HR 1.06, 95% C.I. 1.01-1.11, p = .010) were significantly associated with HCC development. The risk decreased in those who stopped drinking after 2 years of abstinence (p = .0314).LC with significant portal hypertension (varices or ascites), alcohol consumption, and older age at the time of starting antiviral therapy are independent predictors for future HCC development.

We find that the delinquency probability on formal sector debts of private loan borrowers in Korea increases from 2.4% to 20% in the first year after the borrowing and to 32% in the second year. This increase happens despite private loan borrowers trying to rebuild their financial health by reducing formal sector debts, credit card cash service balances, and credit card purchases during the post-borrowing period. This limits the possibility of moral hazard driving the results. Private loan amounts are positively associated with the delinquency probability after controlling other commonly used variables, suggesting that they contain additional information on the worsening financial situation of an individual.

Evaluation of pulp vitality is an important diagnostic procedure in dentistry. Conventional techniques for measurement of pulp vitality, including thermal stimulation, electrical stimulation, or direct dentin stimulation, are frequently associated with false positive or false negative results. Recently, oxygen saturation from pulse oximetry has been utilized in the evaluation of pulp vitality. Perfusion index (PI) data calculated from photoplethysmography have been widely used to evaluate peripheral perfusion. The combination of oxygen saturation and PI may aid in the accurate measurement of pulp vitality. We aimed to investigate the baseline values of oxygen saturation and PI using pulse oximetry in adult volunteers.Fifteen adult volunteers with viable incisors were tested. To measure PI, a fabricated oxygen sensor was applied to an incisor without a pulp lesion while oxygen saturation was simultaneously measured in the finger. Oxygen saturation and PI were continuously measured with customized software. The normal reference values of oxygen saturation and PI were obtained by analyzing the recorded data.Pulse oximetry showed relatively stable, objective, and accurate oxygen saturation results. The tooth oxygen saturation ranged from 97% to 100%. The PI ranged from 0.3% to 0.5%, and PI and oxygen saturation showed relatively consistent values across subjects.Although there are some limitations to our study, these results may prove useful for detecting teeth with impaired vitality and non-invasively differentiating between necrotic and vital pulp.

Proposed herein is a method of controlling the viewing angle in a hybrid-aligned liquid crystal (LC) cell using a vertical bias electric field. Using the proposed method, the viewing angle can be continuously controlled by changing the bias voltage. A vertical bias electric field is applied to the cell for a wide viewing angle whereas no bias electric field is applied for a narrow viewing angle. The proposed cell shows a submillisecond response time.

We propose a homogeneously aligned liquid crystal (LC) cell with double-side protrusion electrodes for fast response and low-voltage operation. In the proposed device, both the bottom and top substrates have pixel electrodes to generate the fringe electric field. Because the penetration depth of the electric field is increased owing to the protrusion electrodes, the operating voltage is very low and the turn-on time is dramatically reduced compared with the conventional in-plane switching (IPS) mode. Moreover, LC molecules anchored strongly to the penetrated protrusion electrodes on both substrates exert a strong restoring force, resulting in a fast turn-off time. We found that the total response time of the LC cell with the proposed structure is three times faster than that of the conventional IPS mode.

We propose a method for fast grey-to-grey (GTG) switching of a homogeneously aligned liquid crystal (LC) cell. Homogeneously aligned LCs are instantly vertically aligned by applying a vertical electric field for a short time before switching to a target grey level. Once the LCs are vertically aligned, we apply an in-plane voltage higher than the data voltage that corresponds to a target grey level, while maintaining the vertical electric field. Then, at the time the vertical field is removed, we apply a data voltage required for switching to the target grey level. We experimentally demonstrated GTG switching of a homogeneously aligned LC cell, which is 11 times faster than a fringe-field switching cell.

We propose a method for fast switching of vertically aligned (VA) negative liquid crystals (LCs) by hiding the relaxation process of LCs. During the turn-off process, a strong in-plane electric fie...

Various types of electrode structures were investigated to obtain the threshold voltage difference that allows for the elimination of the off-axis gamma shift in a multi-domain vertical-alignment liquid crystal cell. The threshold voltage difference can be obtained simply by changing the width of the electrodes or the distance between the electrodes in a two-terminal cell. It can also be obtained by applying a different bias voltage to a three-terminal (3T) cell. The advantages and disadvantages of three types of cell structures were compared. By optimizing the electrode structure of a 3T cell with the top electrode grounded, a 2.9 V threshold voltage difference was experimentally obtained.

Using firm-level Compustat data from 1971 to 2000, we report a substantial cross-industry variation of allocative efficiency in capital expenditure in the US economy. Industries with higher allocative efficiency are the ones with higher firm-level value-added growth heterogeneity, higher information transparency captured by firm-specific stock return volatility and faster long-run productivity growth. This finding is consistent with the idea of creative destruction, where a well-functioning market mechanism sharply distinguishes winners from losers and thus enhances economic growth in the long run. Allocative efficiency has a substantial economic significance and explains as much as 24.5% of the difference in long-run industry productivity growth.

It is important to select highly qualified suppliers within a limited time for e-Procurement in B2B e-marketplaces. Our study presents a hybrid e-Procurement decision support model that is composed...