Search

Phenacoccus solani Ferris, 1918 and Vryburgia distincta (De Lotto, 1964) are herein reported occurring on succulent plants (Echeveria spp.) in South Korea. Both species have not been documented from South Korea except for quarantine inspection reports. In this study, diagnoses, descriptions, and photographs of the two species are provided with general information about their host plants and distributions.

Abstract Background Dangguixu-san (DS), a herbal extract, is widely used in Korean medicine to treat pain and swelling caused by ankle sprain. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effects of DS on ankle sprains. Accordingly, we assessed the efficacy and safety of DS for the treatment of acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS). Methods This study was a multicenter (two Korean hospitals), randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio that included a per-protocol analysis and sub-analysis based on symptom severity. Forty-eight participants (n = 28 at Semyung University Korean Medicine Hospital in Chungju; n = 20 at DongShin University Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital) with grade I or II ALAS that occurred within 72 h before enrollment were randomized to a DS (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) group. Both groups received acupuncture treatment once daily for 5 consecutive days and the trial medication (DS/placebo capsule) three times a day for 7 consecutive days. Primary (visual analog scale [VAS] scores for pain) and secondary (Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores [FAOS], edema, and European Quality of Life Five-Dimension-Five-Level Scale [EQ-5D-5L] scores) outcome measures were recorded at baseline (week 0), the end of the intervention (week 1), and 4 weeks after treatment completion (week 5). Results Forty-six participants completed the trial (n = 23 each). Changes in VAS scores, FAOS Symptom/Rigidity, and FAOS Ache from week 1 to week 5 showed significant differences between the two groups. Sub-analyses showed significant differences in changes of FAOS Ache (week 0 to week 5) and VAS scores, total FAOS, and EQ-5D-5L scores (week 1 to week 5) between the two subgroups (grade II). There were no adverse events and significant negative changes in clinical laboratory parameters in both groups. Conclusions Overall, the results of this study are in favor of DS combined with acupuncture and suggest that DS combined with acupuncture is a safe treatment with positive long-term effects in terms of pain reduction and symptom alleviation in patients with grade I or II ALAS. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service KCT0002374 . Registered on July 11, 2017; retrospectively registered.

We establish the general solutions of the following mixed type of quartic and quadratic functional equation: f(2x+y)+f(2x-y)=4f(x+y)+4f(x-y)+2f(2x)-8f(x)-6f(y). Moreover we prove the Hyers-Ulam-Rassias stability of this equation under the approximately quartic and the approximately quadratic conditions.

We consider the following additive functional equation with 𝑛-independent variables: ∑𝑓(𝑛𝑖=1𝑥𝑖∑)=𝑛𝑖=1𝑓(𝑥𝑖∑)+𝑛𝑖=1𝑓(𝑥𝑖−𝑥𝑖−1) in the spaces of generalized functions. Making use of the heat kernels, we solve the general solutions and the stability problems of the above equation in the spaces of tempered distributions and Fourier hyperfunctions. Moreover, using the mollifiers, we extend these results to the space of distributions.

Making use of the pullbacks, we reformulate the following quadratic functional equation: f(x+y+z)+f(x)+f(y)+f(z)=f(x+y)+f(y+z)+f(z+x) in the spaces of generalized functions. Also, using the fundamental solution of the heat equation, we obtain the general solution and prove the Hyers-Ulam stability of this equation in the spaces of generalized functions such as tempered distributions and Fourier hyperfunctions.

In this paper, we reformulate and prove the Hyers-Ulam-Rassias stability theorem of the cubic functional equation f(ax+y)+f(ax−y)=af(x+y)+af(x−y)+2a(a2−1)f(x) for fixed integer a with a≠0,±1 in the spaces of Schwartz tempered distributions and Fourier hyperfunctions.

Light weight and cheap electrolytes with fast multi-valent ion conductivity can pave the way for future high-energy density solid-state batteries, beyond the lithium-ion battery. Here we present the mechanism of Mg-ion conductivity of monoammine magnesium borohydride, Mg(BH4)2·NH3. Density functional theory calculations (DFT) reveal that the neutral molecule (NH3) in Mg(BH4)2·NH3 is exchanged between the lattice and interstitial Mg2+ facilitated by a highly flexible structure, mainly owing to a network of di-hydrogen bonds, N–Hδ+⋯−δH–B and the versatile coordination of the BH4− ligand. DFT shows that di-hydrogen bonds in inorganic matter and hydrogen bonds in bio-materials have similar bond strengths and bond lengths. As a result of the high structural flexibiliy, the Mg-ion conductivity is dramatically improved at moderate temperature, e.g. σ(Mg2+) = 3.3 × 10−4 S cm−1 at T = 80 °C for Mg(BH4)2·NH3, which is approximately 8 orders of magnitude higher than that of Mg(BH4)2. Our results may inspire a new approach for the design and discovery of unprecedented multivalent ion conductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggressive osteoblastoma is a type of bone tumor rarely reported in veterinary literature. Osteoblastoma may be misdiagnosed as an osteosarcoma, which is a well-understood malignant bone tumor. Owing to poor prognosis, animals diagnosed with osteosarcoma are not always treated. In the present case, we diagnosed the tumor as aggressive osteoblastoma on the basis of macroscopic, microscopic, radiographic, and immunohistologic findings. The patient was treated via resections of the osteoblastoma and lived without metastasis for 3 years. This is the first reported case of aggressive feline osteoblastoma of the cervical vertebrae and will be useful for diagnosing and managing aggressive osteoblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a first-principles study on hydrogen-induced interactions in vanadium, such as V-H, H-H, and vacancy-H interactions, which are relevant to the H-induced embrittlement in vanadium alloys employed as H2 purification membranes. Insertion of H at tetrahedral interstitial sites of V proceeds exothermically and lowers the energy levels of V 3d, 4s, and 4p states that form a bonding state with H 1s. However, H insertion accompanies large local atomic relaxation, thereby developing stress inside the material, which makes a good contrast with Pd where H can be added without significant structural distortion. The strength of the H-H interaction in V, which is indeed an interaction between two V-H bonding states, is negligibly small compared with that of the V-H interaction itself when the H-H distance is larger than ~2 Å. We show that six H atoms can be trapped at the six octahedral sites next to a vacancy in V. Formation of H2 molecules is energetically unfavorable, which is different from the cases of Al and W, where H2 molecules can be formed when enough H atoms are accumulated in a vacancy. Reasons behind this difference, together with the energetics of H-induced superabundant vacancy formation, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receivers using oversampling, where the oversampling ratio is extended from integers to rational numbers. We propose several receiver structures, which reveal the same performance, with the same oversampling ratio. Since the low-pass filters in general OFDM receivers are not ideal, additional noise is introduced into the side bands of the demodulated signal. If we increase the sampling frequency above the symbol rate, subcarriers with higher frequencies than we want are obtained and composed of noise only. Removing the unwanted higher frequency components we can reduce the noise and obtain signal-to-noise power ratio gain compared to the conventional symbol rate receivers. Through computer simulations, we verify the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the general solution of quartic functional equations and prove the Hyers-Ulam- Rassias stability. Moreover, using the pullbacks and the heat kernels we reformulate and prove the stability results of quartic functional equations in the spaces of tempered distributions and Fourier hyperfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the stability of cubic functional equation in the spaces of generalized functions. It is proved that the Hyers-Ulam-Rassias stability theorem cubic functional equation of the cubic functional equation f ( ax + y ) + f ( ax - y ) = af ( x + y ) + af ( x - y ) + 2a(a2 - 1 ) f ( x ) for fixed integer a with a ≠ 0, ± 1 in the spaces of Schwartz tempered distributions and Fourier hyperfunctions. It is mentioned that in 1940, questions concerning the stability of group homomorphisms was solved by Hyers, assuming that G1 and G2 are Banach spaces. It is said that in 1978, Rassias generalized Hyers' result to the unbounded Cauchy difference.

Transparent surface crystallized glasses have been prepared by controlled heat treatment in the system xK 2 O-(33.3-x) BaO-16.7TiO 2 -50SiO 2 (0 = x = 20 mol%), and properties were investigated. The glassy nature was analyzed by differential thermal analyses. The transparency of glass-ceramics is variable and controllable by the processing parameters like time and temperature. The c-axis orientation of surface crystallized Ba 2 TiSi 2 O 8 was observed at the bulk glass-ceramics surfaces and characterized the diffraction intensity ratio (002)/I(001). The estimated nonlinear optical susceptibility ? (3) is discussed in relation to the optical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical and subtropical crops are being increasingly cultivated in South Korea, leading to an increase in damage by exotic insect pests. Consequently, ethyl formate (EF) is currently being considered for quarantine and pre-shipment fumigation. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of EF fumigation for controlling Aphis spiraecola Patch and Aphis gossypii Glover, two representative quarantine pests on passion fruit (“Pink Bourbon”) during greenhouse cultivation and post-harvest storage. The efficacy of EF against both aphids in terms of the lethal concentration causing 50% mortality (LCt50%) and LCt99% was 1.36–2.61 g h/m3 and 3.73–7.55 g h/m3 under greenhouse conditions (23 °C), and 1.37–2.02 g h/m3 and 3.80–14.59 g h/m3 post-harvest (5 °C), respectively. EF at 4 g/m3 for 4 h resulted in 100% mortality of A. spiraecola, which was more resistant to EF, without causing phytotoxic damage to the trees in a 340 m3 greenhouse. Post-harvest fruit fumigation at 10 g/m3 for 4 h in a mid-size (0.8 m3) fumigation chamber resulted in complete disinfection. Moreover, the EF level decreased below the EF threshold within 10 min after natural ventilation in the greenhouse. Therefore, our results suggest EF fumigation as an effective method for controlling A. spiraecola and A. gossypii.

One of cosmopolitan pest, Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), causes serious economic damages in horticultural crops. This pest is difficult to manage and causes irreversible damage because its larvae stay in the ground at day and cut the plant stems at night. Thus, this study compared the host fitness of A. ipsilon among nine major horticultural crops in Korea. Among the nine crops, the population of A. ipsilon failed to complete its development in spinach, cucumber, melon, and kidney bean. The host effects on development and reproduction of A. ipsilon were further investigated in the remained five crops (i.e., napa cabbage, soybean, perilla, corn, and pepper). Host plants significantly (P

Abstract The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), has the potential to become a global pest and is currently expanding its range in the United States. In this study, we investigated the dispersal patterns of SLF in Ailanthus altissima during its oviposition period in South Korea using a fluorescent marking system. Oviposition patterns of SLF were then analyzed by surveying egg masses in A. altissima patches. The recapture rate of fluorescent-marked SLF rapidly decreased to 30% within the first two weeks. During the oviposition period, seven cases of among-patch dispersal of SLF adults were observed. The minimum distance that SLF could have traveled to achieve these among-patch dispersal events ranged from 10 to 1740 m, with most events spanning under 60 m. Also, the number of A. altissima trees on which fluorescent marked SLF were detected increased until September. Based on the egg mass survey, a total of 159 egg masses were detected from 38 out of 247 A. altissima trees. Furthermore, 79.2% of egg masses were located

A tight-binding-based microscopic theory is developed that accounts for quasilinear conduction bands appearing commonly in transparent conducting oxides. It is found that the interaction between oxygen p and metal s orbtials plays a critical role in determining the band structure around the conduction-band minimum. Under certain types of short-range orders, the tight-binding model universally leads to a dispersion relation which corresponds to that of the massive Dirac particle. The impact of the graphenelike band structure is demonstrated by evaluating the electron mobility of highly doped n-type ZnO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]