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In this paper, a miniaturised multi-beam-controlled circular eight-port beamforming network for long-range ultra-highfrequency radio-frequency identification (UHF RFID) hemispheric beam-coverage systems (e.g. unmanned aircraft systems) is proposed. For multi-beam control and compact implementation, the proposed eight-port feeding network consists of an integrated beam-control block with a two-stage RF switch block, 12 quadrature hybrid couplers, and 12 90° phase shifters, and was designed and fabricated on a circular three-layer 1.2 mm FR-4 substrate. The diameter of the fabricated network is ~0.47 λ0 at 915 MHz. The measured maximum insertion loss, and amplitude and phase imbalances of the fabricated network at the authorised UHF RFID frequency band (902-928 MHz) are ~4.5 dB, ± 1.3 dB, and ± 17.5°, respectively. An eight-element dipole antenna array with the proposed feeding network shows feasibility of hemispheric beam coverage by generating multiple beams simultaneously regarding port controls. Beam coverages, where the simulated realised gain is higher than 3 dBi, are ~180° and 130° at ϕ = 90 and 0°, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] flowers are either white or purple, whereas nearly all wild soybean (G. soja Sieb and Zucc.) accessions have purple flowers. As a result, the soybean flower color phenotype has attracted the attention of plant breeders, biochemists and population geneticists. Here, we report genetic mapping of a novel recessive white flower gene in YWS415, a wild soybean accession collected in Korea. The W1 locus, which is the major locus determining purple (W1) or white (w1) flower color, encodes flavonoid 3'5'-hydroxylase in YWS415, which was more similar to the common W1-type sequences than w1-type sequences. Subsequent mapping results using an F2 population from a cross between the 'Hwangkeum' (purple flower) and YWS415 variants indicated that the white flower color was controlled by a recessive allele at the W4 locus that encodes dihydroflavonol-4-reductase 2 (DFR2). The w4 allele arose through insertion of a 5584-bp nonautonomous transposon member of soybean GM_CACTA_33 family into the second intron of DFR2. It was designated as GM_CACTA_33_w4. Results from this study will enhance our understanding of soybean white flower inheritance and facilitate marker-assisted selection for the antioxidative anthocyanins in soybeans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Mitochondrial disorders with respiratory chain complex defect are known to show a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes, though their contribution to renal disease has not received much attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate renal function using different markers of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex (MRC) defects. Methods: Twenty-two patients with MRC I defect confirmed by biochemical enzyme assays using muscle tissue, were evaluated for renal function with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) renal scintigraphy, urine creatinine clearance, serum creatinine (Scr) and cystatin C (Cys C) levels. Results: All patients showed lower levels within normal range of Scr (0.4–0.7 mg/dL, mean 0.47 mg/dL), and with no significant correlation with DTPA–GFR. Cys C showed significant correlation with DTPA–GFR (p < 0.01) providing higher diagnostic accuracy than creatinine in patients with MRC defect. Conclusion: In mitochondrial disorder with MRC defect, Scr could not fully reflect renal function due to the relatively small body mass of patients. Considering the limited clinical availability of DTPA renal scintigraphy, Cys C should be taken as the first step to evaluate GFR in mitochondrial disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explains the responses of the Korean economy to expected or unexpected risks and opportunities of rapid economic development and examines the implications for the African economy. The industrial transformation and increases in income levels in Korea were attributed to intensive learning processes where technological capability building and human resource development has played a role. The article discusses the history of the interaction of Korea with the international economy and the policies associated with the international environment including trade, financial markets, and commodity markets.

Background: School urinary mass screening tests are performed to make early diagnosis and provide proper treatment for chronic renal diseases. However, very few systemic analyses or studies have been reported regarding final diagnosis made on children with abnormal urinary screening results. Aim: To study the cases of renal biopsy in children detected in urinary screening. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 461 cases of renal biopsy performed on children referred to us with abnormal school urinary mass screening results who satisfied indications for renal biopsy. Results: Pathologically abnormal findings were observed in 285 (61.8%) patients. Thin glomerular basement membrane disease was detected in 127 (27.5%) cases and IgA nephropathy in 121 (26.2%) cases. Among those 461 children, microscopic haematuria was observed in 289 (62.7%) patients, proteinuria in nine (2.0%), and both in 163 (35.4%). In addition, a statistically higher rate of pathological abnormalities on renal biopsy was noted in the group with microscopic haematuria combined with proteinuria and also in cases with more severe haematuria. Conclusion: School urinary mass screening has greatly contributed to diagnosing chronic renal diseases. Continuous medical observation is required when abnormal urinalysis is observed, and a more aggressive medical approach such as renal biopsy should also be performed if necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To determine the frequencies of the variant alleles and the genotypes of CYP2C9 in a Korean population. Methods Three hundred and fifty-eight healthy Korean subjects were studied. CYP2C9 alleles were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays and direct sequencing assays. Results The allele frequencies were 0.934 for CYP2C9* 1, 0.060 for CYP2C9* 3 and 0.006 for CYP2C9* 13. The CYP2C9*2,* 4,* 5 and * 11 alleles were not detected. The frequencies of the CYP2C9* 1/* 1, * 1/* 3 and * 1/* 13 genotypes were 0.869, 0.120 and 0.011, respectively. Conclusion The frequency of the CYP2C9* 3 allele in the Korean population studied was significantly higher than reported elsewhere, and a novel allele, CYP2C9* 13, was found at a frequency of 0.006 (95% confidence interval 0, 0.012). Only three genotypes of CYP2C9, CYP2C9* 1/* 1,* 1/* 3 and * 1/* 13 were observed in this Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the case of a five-year-old boy who has nephrotic syndrome complicated with acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC). According to the author, nephrotic syndrome is described by generalized edema, proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia. The patient experienced acute abdominal pain and vomiting and was diagnosed with AAC on ultrasonography.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Is There an Association Between Intradialytic Hypotension and Serum Magnesium Changes?" in the October 2010 issue.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Bullous lesions in Henoch-Schonlein purpura," by K.H. Chan and colleagues, which appeared in a 2007 issue.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles in previous issues such as "Identification of a correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and Graves' disease," by V. Bassi and colleagues in the 2010 issue and "TSH receptoradenovirus- induced Graves' hyperthyroidism is attenuated in both interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 knockout mice; implications for the Th1/Th2 paradigm," by Y. Nagayama and colleagues in the 2004 issue.

A letter to the editor on several studies conducted for early treatment of corticosteroid (CS) to reduce the severity of Henoch Schönlein Purpura (HSP) related bullous lesions and their sequelae is presented.