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The prevalence rate of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a main cause of death in patients with CKD. The high incidence of CVD in CKD patients is related to chronic inflammation, dyslipidemia, malnutrition, atherosclerosis, and vascular calcification. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) have been shown to reduce the risk of CVD. In this paper, we review the beneficial effects of ω-3 PUFAs on CVD and the possible cardioprotective mechanisms of ω-3 PUFAs in CKD patients by determining the effect of ω-3 PUFAs in the general population. ω-3 PUFAs have several cardioprotective benefits, such as reducing inflammation, decreasing oxidative stress, inhibiting platelet activity, exerting antiarrhythmic effects, and improving triglyceride levels, in the general population and patients with CKD. Modifications of erythrocyte membrane fatty acid content, including an increased ω-3 index and decreased oleic acid, after ω-3 PUFAs supplementation are important changes related to CVD risk reduction in the general population and patients with CKD. Further basic and clinical studies are essential to confirm the effects of ω-3 PUFAs on vitamin D activation, vascular calcification prevention, cardiovascular events, and mortality in CKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberry spectral analysis can provide necessary wavelengths, for use in multispectral imaging that could be applied in blueberry yield estimation system. Samples of fruit and leaves were obtained from a commercial blueberry field in Waldo, Florida and an experimental field in Citra, Florida, USA in 2011. Samples were also collected in 2010 in Waldo. Seven representative southern highbush varieties were chosen for the experiment. Spectral reflectance was measured in the 200–2500 nm with an increment of 1 nm. Samples were divided into leaf, mature fruit, near-mature fruit, near-young fruit and young fruit. Normalised indices were used as the candidate variables for classification. Each index was composed of the two wavelengths that had the greatest difference in reflectance between two classes. Classification tree, principal component analysis (PCA) and multinomial logistic regression (MNR) were conducted to develop classification models. An MNR model with six wavelengths (233, 551, 554, 691, 699 and 1373 nm) performed the best for the 2011 dataset, with a prediction accuracy of 100% for leaf and mature fruit, 97.8% for young fruit, 97.9% for near-young fruit and 94.6% for near-mature fruit. Four wavelengths (553, 688, 698 and 1373 nm) were used in the classification models of two years'' data with four classes (mature fruit, intermediate fruit, young fruit and leaf), and accuracies of 100%, 100%, 99%, and 98.5% were obtained for the classification of leaf, mature fruit, intermediate fruit and young fruit, respectively. An easy-to-use and low cost blueberry fruit detector could thus be developed using multispectral imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrocarbon resins, which are defined as low molecular weight, amorphous, and thermoplastic polymers, are widely used as tackifier for various types of adhesives, as processing aids in rubber compounds, and as modifiers for paint and ink products, and for plastics polymers such as isotactic polypropylene. Typically, hydrocarbon resins are non-polar, and thus highly compatible with non-polar rubbers and polymer. However, they are poorly compatible with polar system, such as acrylic copolymer, polyurethanes, and polyamides. Moreover, recently the raw materials of tackifier from naphtha cracking had been decreased because of light feed cracking such as gas cracking. To overcome this problem, in this study, novel hydrocarbon resins were designed to have a highly polar chemical structure. And, it was synthesized by Diels–Alder reaction of dicyclopentadiene monomer and sorbic acid from blueberry as renewable resources. Acrylic resins were formulated with various tackifiers solution including hydrogenated sorbic acid grafted dicyclopentadiene tackifier in acrylic adhesive and rolling ball tack, loop tack, 180° peel adhesion strength, and shear adhesion strength were measured. The properties depend on the softening point and polar content of tackifiers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Currently available wireless sensor networks (WSNs) provide the potential for collecting and monitoring construction job-site information in an efficient way. However, the unique characteristic of large scale and complicated job-site layout makes it difficult to reliably adopt WSNs. As the wireless network becomes denser, increased network traffic may degrade the overall reliability of the data acquisition system. In this paper, a numerical simulation with the IEEE802.15.4 standard was conducted to analyze the packet reception rate and the number of received bits using channel clear probability. In addition, a case study was implemented to evaluate the network traffic congestion, by configuring an ad-hoc network topology with the commercial product of the ZigBee module. It is confirmed that the reliability of the ad-hoc network is degraded due to the increased signal traffic caused by the increased number of active nodes, hop counts, transmission intervals, etc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Influenza, a highly communicable disease, causes variable epidemics annually and imposes public health problems and socioeconomic burden. In addition to vaccine, antiviral medication has an important role in treatment and prevention of influenza virus infection. As influenza virus is undergoing change of antigenicity and antiviral susceptibility, proper use of antiviral medication is important. This guideline encompasses treatment and chemoprophylaxis with antiviral medications for seasonal influenza based on the current influenza situation in Korea. These recommendations were intended for physicians in all medical specialties who provide care for influenza patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common types of cancers concerning the kidneys worldwide. Pembrolizumab and axitinib treatment (Pembro/Axi) is amongst the most effective first-line immunotherapies for advanced RCC. However, it remains difficult to predict the effectiveness of Pembro/Axi immunotherapy for the treatment of RCC. Therefore, this prospective study was conducted with the aim of evaluating whether baseline serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) could serve as a predictive biomarker for Pembro/Axi treatment in RCC. Low levels of IL-6 were associated with longer progression-free survival rates, while high IL-6 levels had worse progression-free rates and overall survival. Moreover, high IL-6 levels were related to reduced interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α production. These findings elucidate the clinical and biological implications of IL-6 as a predictive biomarker in RCC patients who received Pembro/Axi as a first-line treatment. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney malignancy worldwide with Pembrolizumab and axitinib treatment (Pembro/Axi) amongst the most effective first-line immunotherapies for advanced RCC. However, it remains difficult to predict treatment response and early resistance. Therefore, we evaluated whether baseline serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) could be a predictive biomarker. Between November 2019 and December 2021, 58 patients with advanced RCC were enrolled, administered first-line Pembro/Axi, and baseline blood samples were analyzed using flow cytometry. The mean baseline serum IL-6 concentration was 8.6 pg/mL in responders and 84.1 pg/mL in patients with progressive disease. The IL-6 cut-off value was set at 6.5 pg/mL using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, with 37.9% of patients having high baseline serum IL-6 levels and 62.1% having low levels. Objective response rates were 58.3% and 36.4% in low and high IL-6 groups, respectively. Overall survival and progression-free survival were longer in patients with low IL-6 levels than in those with high levels. High IL-6 levels were related to reduced interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α production from CD8+ T cells. Overall, high baseline serum IL-6 levels were associated with worse survival outcomes and reduced T-cell responses in Pembro/Axi-treated advanced RCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency, low levels of fetuin-A, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) are related to vascular calcification, which is associated with cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acid (FA), which has cardioprotective properties, modifies vitamin D status, fetuin-A, and FGF-23 levels in dialysis patients. In a randomized, open-label, controlled study, a total of 47 patients treated with dialysis for at least 1 year were randomized to treatment for 6 months with omega-3 FAs (Omacor, 3 g/d; Pronova, Sandefjord, Norway) or a control group. Levels of fetuin-A and FGF-23 were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean age of the enrolled patients was 57.4 ± 10.4 years, and mean dialysis duration was 46.5 ± 28.1 months. Twenty-seven hemodialysis patients and 16 peritoneal dialysis patients finished this trial. After 6 months, the levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and fetuin-A were significantly increased in the group taking the omega-3 FA supplement compared with baseline. Levels of calcium, phosphorous, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, FGF-23, and lipid profiles were not significantly changed in the omega-3 FA–supplemented group after 6 months compared with baseline. The erythrocyte membrane contents of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly increased, and oleic acid content was significantly decreased in the omega-3 FA–supplemented group after 6 months compared with baseline. Regarding vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease, omega-3 FA supplementation may have a clinical benefit caused by activating vitamin D, increasing fetuin-A levels, and modifying erythrocyte membrane FA contents in dialysis patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background/Aim: Diastolic dysfunction is frequently associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, which is indicative of future cardiovascular events. Vascular calcification (VC) is known to be associated with coronary artery disease in dialysis patients. The present study was to determine the interrelationship between LV diastolic dysfunction by tissue Doppler imaging and VC on plain radiographs in dialysis patients. Methods: Fifty-six dialysis patients were recruited and VC scores were evaluated by plain radiographic film. The ratio of early diastolic transmitral inflow velocity (E) to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E′) was measured by tissue Doppler imaging. We defined diastolic dysfunction as an E/E′ ratio >15 on tissue Doppler imaging. Results: Patients with diastolic dysfunction showed a higher percentage of coronary artery disease history, abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) scores ≥5, high LV mass index, and high left atrium volume compared to patients without diastolic dysfunction. The E/E′ ratio was significantly higher in patients with significant VC, VC scores of the pelvis and hands ≥3, and AAC scores ≥5 on plain radiographs. AAC scores ≥5 were considered an independent predictor of diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion: VC on plain radiographs is associated with the E/E′ ratio and AAC scores ≥5 are important clues for LV diastolic dysfunction in dialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: It is still a matter of debate as to whether palliative resection of obstructive primary tumors may prolong the survival of patients with obstructive colon cancer and unresectable synchronous metastases. The main goal of this retrospective study was to compare the use of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) with open surgery for the palliation of patients with respect to survival, morbidity, and the time to start chemotherapy. Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2008, 88 consecutive patients (52 who underwent surgery and 36 who underwent SEMS insertion) with obstructive colon cancer and unresectable synchronous metastases were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The median hospital stay for all admissions was 7.2 days (range, 3–29 days) in the SEMS group and 12.3 days (range, 6–45 days) in the surgery group (P = .001). The incidence of stoma formation was significantly lower in the SEMS group than in the surgery group (16.7% vs 38.5%, respectively, P = .021). The median time to starting chemotherapy was significantly shorter in patients who underwent SEMS insertion compared with those who underwent surgery (8.1 vs 21.7 days, respectively, P = .001). The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 44.2% and 21.27% in the surgery group and 16.7% and 2.8% in the SEMS group, respectively. The median survival for all patients was 15 months from the initiation of treatment (95% confidence interval, 6.0–19 months). Conclusions: Both procedures can be safely performed, but the choice of treatment should be individualized and discussed with a multidisciplinary team. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To test whether tanshinones inhibit prostate cancer (PCa) growth at least in part through inhibiting androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Methods: We evaluated cell growth, survival and AR signaling parameters of PCa cells after exposure to tanshinones in in vitro models. We also tested the in vivo inhibitory efficacy of tanshinone IIA (TIIA) against LNCaP xenograft model in athymic nude mice. Results: For androgen-dependent LNCaP cells, a colony growth assay showed strong inhibitory potency following the order of TIIA≈cryptotanshinone>tanshinone I, being 10-30 folds higher than Casodex (racemic). TIIA inhibited growth of LNCaP cells more than several androgen-independent PCa cell lines. All 3 tested tanshinones were devoid of AR agonist activity under castrate condition. Mechanistically, tanshinones inhibited AR nuclear translocation within 2 h, decreased protein and mRNA abundance of AR and its target prostate-specific antigen within 12 h, and stimulated proteosomal degradation of AR. Oral administration of TIIA (25 mg/kg, once daily) retarded LNCaP xenograft growth and down-regulated tumor AR abundance in athymic nude mice. Conclusion: AR targeting action of tanshinones was distinct from Casodex and contributed to prostate cancer growth suppression in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Citrus greening, also called Huanglongbing (HLB), became a devastating disease spread through citrus groves in Florida, since it was first found in 2005. Multispectral (MS) and hyperspectral (HS) airborne images of citrus groves in Florida were acquired to detect citrus greening infected trees in 2007 and 2010. Ground truthing including field and indoor spectral measurement, infection status along with GPS coordinates was conducted for both healthy and infected trees. Ground spectral measurements showed that healthy canopy had higher reflectance in the visible range, and lower reflectance in the near-infrared (NIR) range than HLB infected canopy. Red edge position (REP) also showed notable difference between healthy and HLB canopy. But the difference in the NIR range and REP were comparably more sensitive to the environment or the background noise. Accuracy for separating HLB and healthy samples reached more than 90% when a simple REP threshold method was implemented in the ground reflectance datasets, regardless of field or indoor measurement; but it did not work well with the HS images because of its low spatial resolution. Support vector machine (SVM) was able to provide a fast, easy and adoptable way to build a mask for tree canopy. High positioning error of the ground truth in the 2007 HS image led to validation accuracy of less than 50% for most of classification methods. In the 2010 image from Southern Gardens (SG) grove, with better ground truth records, higher classification accuracies (about 90% in training sets, more than 60% in validation sets for most of the methods) were achieved. Disease density maps were also generated from the classification results of each method; most of them were able to identify the severely infected areas. Simpler classification methods such as minimum distance (MinDist) and Mahalanobis distance (MahaDist) showed more stable and balanced detection accuracy between the training and validation sets in the 2010 images. Their similar infection trend with ground scouted maps showed a promising future to manage HLB disease with airborne spectral imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective/background: This study aimed to analyze the hypothesis that increased percentage drop in serum CEA post curative resection for colon cancer is associated with improved survival. Methods: Five hundred thirty three patients who underwent colon resection with a curative intent were retrospectively analyzed for their pre- and postoperative CEA levels. The disease-free and overall survival curves were calculated using Kaplan Meier analysis to evaluate cancer related outcomes. For multivariate analysis, the Cox regression model was used. Results: The estimated 5-year overall survival for the preoperative serum CEA > 5 ng/mL group with respect to a postoperative CEA level drop rate of 40%, 50% and 60% were 72.9%, 80.9% and 81.8%, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival for the preoperative serum CEA ≤ 5 ng/mL group with respect to each postoperative CEA level drop rate were 86.6%, 97.1% and 97.7%, respectively (P = 0.257, P = 0.092 and P = 0.073, respectively). The prognostic factors for poor survival were the depth of invasion (p = 0.042, hazard ratio: 2.617, 95% CI = 1.021–3.012) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.008, hazard ratio: 2.249, 95% CI = 1.231–4.111). A 60% drop of the CEA level was an independent prognostic factor for survival (p = 0.001, hazard ratio: 2.954, 95% CI = 1.686–5.176) for patients with a preoperative CEA level > 5 ng/mL. Conclusion: Determining the preoperative CEA level and the early postoperative percent drop of the serum CEA level may be a helpful factor for the prognosis of colon caner patients. However, the percent drop from the pre to postoperative CEA level from the normal range was not associated with survival difference. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As the size and scale of construction projects increase, inefficiencies related to the manual operations about field data in current tracking systems are becoming an important issue. While emerging wireless technologies are providing a feasible vision of ubiquitous computing and sensor networks applicable to the large-scale construction industry, it has become even harder to select a suitable technology for tracking construction materials because of the differing functionalities, capabilities, and scope of application of the specific technology. This research proposes a multi-criteria decision-making model that leverages the decision process in choosing various wireless technologies available on the market. To justify the selection of a specific technology, a fuzzy method was adopted to provide an appropriate way to decide among five alternatives (e.g., RFID, GPS, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and UWB). Fuzzy ranking was obtained from the aggregated fuzzy appropriate index (FAI) based on a person's point of view (optimist, pessimist, or neutral). The results showed that Wi-Fi might be a suitable solution for optimists and neutral persons, but UWB might be the better alternative for pessimists. The results of this research may assist construction engineers in applying reasonable decision-making procedures in a fuzzy environment such as construction sites, and rank the relative importance of the various criteria and alternatives specified in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Because it operates under a strict time constraint, query processing for data streams should be continuous and rapid. To guarantee this constraint, most previous researches optimize the evaluation order of multiple join operations in a set of continuous queries using a greedy optimization strategy so that the order is re-optimized dynamically in run-time due to the time-varying characteristics of data streams. However, this method often results in a sub-optimal plan because the greedy strategy traces only the first promising plan. This paper proposes a new multiple query optimization approach, Adaptive Sharing-based Extended Greedy Optimization Approach (A-SEGO), that traces multiple promising partial plans simultaneously. A-SEGO presents a novel method for sharing the results of common sub-expressions in a set of queries cost-effectively. The number of partial plans can be flexibly controlled according to the query processing workload. In addition, to avoid invoking the optimization process too frequently, optimization is performed only when the current execution plan is relatively no longer efficient. A series of experiments are comparatively analyzed to evaluate the performance of the proposed method in various stream environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Graphene represents the first practical realization of crystalline supports in biological transmission electron microscopy (TEM) since their introduction over 30 years ago. The high transparency, minimal inelastic cross-section, and electrical conductivity of graphene are highly desirable characteristics for a TEM support. However, without a suitable method for rendering graphene supports, hydrophilic applications are limited. This work describes the in situ functionalization of graphene with minimal structural degradation, rendering TEM supports sufficiently hydrophilic for the mounting of biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microcellular foaming process consists of the saturation process for dissolving gas molecules into plastic and the subsequent foaming process for cell formation. Foaming characteristics of microcellular plastics (MCPs) such as foaming ratio and cell morphology are largely determined by the saturation conditions, particularly by the saturation pressure. In this study, we investigate the effects of saturation pressure on the foaming characteristics of MCPs, when the quantity of dissolved gas (or the weight gain) is kept constant. Because the weight gain of a specimen is an increasing function of saturation pressure, different desorption times are used in order to maintain the same weight gain across specimens from different saturation pressures. Contrary to the common belief, for specimens with the same weight gain higher saturation pressures lead to lower foaming ratios. A hypothesis for the underlying mechanism and a practical ramification of the phenomenon are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A machine vision algorithm was developed to detect and count immature green citrus fruits in natural canopies using color images. A total of 96 images were acquired in October 2010 from an experimental citrus grove in the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. Thirty-two of the total 96 images were selected randomly and used for training the algorithm, and 64 images were used for validation. Color, circular Gabor texture analysis and a novel ‘eigenfruit’ approach (inspired by the ‘eigenface’ face detection and recognition method) were used for green citrus detection. A shifting sub-window at three different scales was used to scan the entire image for finding the green fruits. Each sub-window was classified three times by eigenfruit approach using intensity component, eigenfruit approach using saturation component, and circular Gabor texture. Majority voting was performed to determine the results of the sub-window classifiers. Blob analysis was performed to merge multiple detections for the same fruit. For the validation set, 75.3% of the actual fruits were successfully detected using the proposed algorithm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. From 2002 through 2006, Republic of Korea conducted extensive measles elimination activities and declared elimination in 2006. An outbreak of measles involving 180 confirmed cases occurred during 2007. Methods. An outbreak investigation was performed and enhanced surveillance was implemented. Detailed case investigations and laboratory testing included serologic and molecular diagnostic methods. Cases were classified according to World Health Organization and national guidelines. Results. During 2007, 451 suspected cases were reported and 180 (40%) cases were confirmed as measles during epidemiologic weeks 14-42. Incidence during the outbreak was 3.7 cases per million persons, excluding imported cases. Most confirmed cases were reported from Seoul; 137 (76%) cases were among children <24 months old, 124 (69%) case patients had no history of measles vaccination, and 81 (45%) case patients resulted from nosocomial transmission in 6 hospitals. Community members, patients, and health care workers all contributed to measles virus transmission. Limited outbreak control measures were implemented; high population immunity likely accounted for the self-limited transmission during this outbreak. Conclusions. Limited outbreaks of measles, in which nosocomial transmission can play an important role, may occur after countries have declared elimination. Timely and opportunistic vaccination may help prevent such outbreaks; high-quality surveillance is critical for their detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrochemical and physical analysis is employed to verify the performance degradation mechanism in direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). The power density of a single cell measured at 200mAcm−2 decreases by 40% after 11h of operation. The performance of the single cell is partly recovered however, by a reactivation process. Various analytical methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are used to investigate the mechanism of performance degradation. The analytical results show that the electrolyte membranes in the DFAFC are stable for 11h of operation after the reactivation process. The major factors causing performance degradation in the DFAFC are an increment in the anode charge-transfer resistance and a growth in the particle size of the Pd anode catalyst. The anode charge-transfer resistance, confirmed by EIS, increases with operation time and is due to poisoning of the catalyst surface. Although it is not clear what chemical species poisons the catalyst surface, the catalyst surface is cleaned by the reactivation process. Performance losses caused by surface poisoning are completely recovered by the reactivation process. Increase in catalyst size induces a reduction in active surface area, and the performance loss caused by the growth in catalyst size cannot be recovered by the reactivation process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: This study was conducted to describe the clinicopathological characteristics of appendiceal tumors and to evaluate their appropriate management. Methods: Between September 2000 and September 2005, 28 appendiceal tumors were identified by a retrospective review of 3,744 appendectomies. Results: Twenty-eight patients were found to have appendiceal tumors (incidence, 0.7%).The largest single group of tumors were benign mucinous cystadenomas (50%); carcinoids (32.1%) were next, and they were followed by malignant tumors (17.9%). Four out of five patients who had malignant appendiceal tumors presented with periappendiceal abscess. None of the patients was correctly diagnosed preoperatively. One-stage curative resection was possible in more than 76% of the patients, and the rate of making the correct preoperative diagnosis was 35%. Conclusion: Most appendiceal tumors presented with appendicitis and periappendiceal abscess. Appendiceal tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis when an unexpected appendiceal mass is encountered during appendectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conjunction with the construction of a diversity-oriented synthesis library of 10-membered ring "natural product-like" macrolides. the design, synthesis, and validation of a unique class of bifunctional linchpins, uniting benzyne reactivity initiated by type II anion relay chemistry (ARC) has been achieved, permitting access to diverse [2+2], [3+2], and [4+2] cycloadducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

K-Ras somatic mutations in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) can predict resistance to mAbs that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The relationships between K-ras mutations and the EGFR status have not yet been examined, especially in Korean patients. A total of 82 colorectal tumors (stage III-IV) were analyzed. K-Ras mutations at codons 12 and 13 were detected by polymerase chain reaction—single strand conformational polymorphism. The EGFR expressions were examined by immunohistochemistry, and these were graded according to a modified EGFR expression scoring system. The relationships between the patients’ characteristics and the survival time and the gene mutation status were analyzed. The EGFR expression was positive in 69 patients (84.1%) and negative in 13 patients (15.9%). The K-ras mutation rate was 35.4%. In all, 20 (68.9%) cases were mutated at codon 12 and 9 (31.1%) cases were mutated at codon 13. No relationship was observed between the EGFR status and K-ras mutation. The median overall survival (OS) was 68.1 months. There was no difference between the K-ras mutant group and the wild type group for overall survival (30.3% vs 21.0%, respectively, at 36 months, P = .777). K-ras mutation and the EGFR status were not independent prognostic factors for OS (P = .105 and P = .499, respectively). For the Korean patients with CRC, the rate of an EGFR protein expression was greater than that for the patients in Western countries, and the rate of K-ras mutations was lower than that for patients in Western countries. This study found no correlation between the EGFR status and K-ras mutations in colorectal tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Microcellular plastics (MCPs) are manufactured through a batch process comprised of saturation and foaming stages. In the saturation process, gas molecules are dissolved into plastic in a high-pressure vessel. Following the saturation process, micro-cells are formed inside the plastic as the gas-dissolved plastic sample undergoes the foaming process. In this paper, we investigate the effects of repeating the batch process on the formation of MCPs. Because the plastic sample after the first batch process has developed microcells, these pre-existing cells are expected to affect the second round of the batch process. Of particular interest is the effect of repeated saturation at different saturation pressures. Experiments show that repeating the batch process can lead to favorable outcomes in terms of foaming ratio and cell morphology, which are otherwise unattainable particularly with a single batch process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubilities of forms I and II of clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate (CHS) in methanol + 2-propanol mixture were measured over the temperature range of (−5 to +55) °C and the methanol mass fraction range of (1.0 to 0.1). Enthalpy and entropy of dissolution of forms I and II of CHS in methanol +2-propanol were determined by using the van't Hoff equation. Form II had a lower solubility and a higher enthalpy of dissolution compared to those of form I, which indicated that form II was the stable form and form I was the metastable form at the studied temperature range of (−5 to +55) °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcellular plastics (MCPs) are one of the most significant developments in the plastics industry over the last decade. Microcellular plastics keep mechanical strength loss and plastic weight to a minimum through microcells inside MCPs. The size and number of cells inside MCPs have a direct correlation with foaming ratio. The cell size has to be consistent to ensure higher quality of MCPs, and a great number of cells are needed for a high foaming ratio. This underscores the need to control the size and number of cells to meet products' required performance. In the microcellular batch process, saturation and foaming conditions are major factors that influence the size and number of cells. This article describes how desorption time, defined as the time lapse between saturation and foaming processes, affects cell formation. Our particular concern is the effect of varying desorption time on foaming ratio and cell morphology. The general rule is that the shorter the desorption time, the higher the foaming ratio (i.e., more cells of smaller sizes are formed because of more dissolved gas molecules remaining in the sample). In our study, however, an opposite trend was observed for desorption time less than 2 minutes. As such, different desorption times ranging from 1 to 5 minutes were used to systematically investigate the corresponding changes in foaming ratio and cell morphology. A possible mechanism of action for this anomalous phenomenon is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the prognostic role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in stage 2 colon cancers. The study was participated by patients who were diagnosed with pathologic stage 2 colon cancer after curative resection for colon carcinoma at the Samsung Medical Center at Sungkyunkwan University. The study concluded that FOXP3-positive and CD45RO-positive TILs have independent prognostic significance that can provide an independent predictor for prognosis and help refine the selection of patient subgroups with unfavorable prognosis.

This study aimed to determine the validity of the digital photocolorimetric (PCM) method in matching the color of human teeth. First, two Vitapan Classical shade guides, each containing 16 shade guide teeth, were visually shade matched, and digital photographs of each three pair of shade guide teeth were taken in a color matching booth. Secondly, visual shade matching of the upper central incisors of 48 subjects was performed by two prosthodontists independently in a chair, using the Vitapan Classical shade guide. The three closest shade guide teeth were visually selected and ranked in order of preference, for which digital photographs were taken under ceiling daylight-corrected fluorescent lighting. All digital images were analyzed on a computer screen using software to calculate the color difference between the reference tooth and other teeth in the same digital image. The percent color matching for the shade guide teeth and human teeth was 88% and 75%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in matching the tooth color between the shade guide teeth and human teeth. The digital PCM method is valid for the range of human teeth based on the Vitapan Classical shade guide. This method enhances communication with the laboratory personnel in matching the tooth color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We grew heterojunction light emitting diode (LED) structures with various n-type semiconducting layers by magnetron sputtering on p-type GaN at high temperature. Because the undoped ZnO used as an active layer was grown under oxygen rich atmosphere, all LED devices showed the EL characteristics corresponding to orange-red wavelength due to high density of oxygen interstitial, which was coincident with the deep level photoluminescence emission of undoped ZnO. The use of the Ga doped layers as a top layer provided the sufficient electron carriers to active region and resulted in the intense EL emission. The LED sample with small quantity of Mg incorporated in MgZnO as an n-type top layer showed more intense emission than the LED with ZnO, in spite of the deteriorated electrical and structural properties of the MgZnO film. This might be due to the improvement of output extraction efficiency induced by rough surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Phosphorus (P)-doped ZnO thin films with amphoteric doping behavior were grown on c-sapphire substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering with various argon/oxygen gas ratios. Control of the electrical types in the P-doped ZnO films was achieved by varying the gas ratio without post-annealing. The P-doped ZnO films grown at a argon/oxygen ratio of 3/1 showed p-type conductivity with a hole concentration and hole mobility of 1.5×1017 cm−3 and 2.5cm2/Vs, respectively. X-ray diffraction showed that the ZnO (0002) peak shifted to lower angle due to the positioning of P3− ions with a larger ionic radius in the O2− sites. This indicates that a p-type mechanism was due to the substitutional PO. The low-temperature photoluminescence of the p-type ZnO films showed p-type related neutral acceptor-bound exciton emission. The p-ZnO/n-Si heterojunction light emitting diode showed typical rectification behavior, which confirmed the p-type characteristics of the ZnO films in the as-deposited status, despite the deep-level related electroluminescence emission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to investigate clinically useful information for effective screening for synchronous and metachronous second primary cancers and to suggest potential surveillance tool. We retrospectively reviewed 1,063 patients who were treated with potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer at Gachon University, Gil Hospital from 1997 to 2007. The incidence of synchronous or metachronous cancer in addition to colorectal cancer was 5.3% (57 patients). The most common second primary cancer was stomach (54.3%), followed by cancers in cervix (12.2%). The time interval between the first and second tumor in colorectal cancer associated with metachronous extracolonic malignancy ranged from 1.1 to 10.8 years. The incidence of early-stage tumor was higher in patients with synchronous cancer than in those with a metachronous cancer with statistical significance ( p = 0.034). The 5-year survival rate of the colorectal cancer group without second primary cancer was 70.1%, whereas that for the second primary cancer group was 63.8% ( p = 0.253). The 5-year survival rate of the colorectal cancer group with stomach cancer was 70.5%, whereas that for the second primary cancer other than stomach cancer group was 56.6% ( p = 0.282). The frequent association between colorectal cancer and gastric cancer suggests an inclusion of gastrofiberscope when surveillancing patients with colorectal cancer in Korean population. Second primary cancers may develop even 10 years after the initial operation; thus, a need for lifelong surveillance even more than 5 years may be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A solution processed polymer tandem cell has been fabricated by utilizing organic layer coated TiO2 nanoparticle (OL-TiO2) as an interlayer. The crystalline phase of the OL-TiO2 was anatase. The dispersed solution of the OL-TiO2 showed high optical transparency and excellent film forming property. The top and bottom cell were clearly separated by the OL-TiO2 interlayer without interlayer mixing, which was not observed for the tandem cell utilizing commercially available TiO2 nanoparticle (N-TiO2) as an interlayer. The conversion efficiency of a polymer tandem cell was enhanced from 1.43% to 3.44% by replacing the interlayer from N-TiO2 to OL-TiO2. The tandem cell performance was further enhanced by adjusting the thicknesses of the active layers in the subcells and adjusting the conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS layer in the bottom cell. The highest conversion efficiency of 3.66% was obtained from the tandem cell having the structure of ITO/Baytron P VP AI 4083/P3HT:PCBM (100nm)/OL-TiO2/Baytron PH 500/P3HT:PCBM (100nm)/Al. In addition that, it was found that the OL-TiO2 interlayer enhanced the stability of the tandem cell comparing to that of the single junction cell by the reduction of the oxygen diffusion to the bottom layer by the interlayer. It is expected that the performance of the tandem cell can be further enhanced by adopting efficient low band gap materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The occurrence of herpes zoster can deteriorate the quality of life considerably, resulting in high disease burden. While Korea is assumed to have high disease burden of herpes zoster, there has been no researches analyzing this. Objectives: We performed this study to investigate the disease burden of herpes zoster in the Korean population as a whole. Study design: We used the database of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service of Korea and analyzed the data of patients who had herpes zoster as a principal diagnosis during the period from 2003 to 2007. We investigated the annual prevalence, rate of clinical visits, rate of hospitalization, and the pattern of medical services use. The socioeconomic burden of herpes zoster was calculated by a conversion into cost. Results: Rates of clinic visits and hospitalizations due to herpes zoster during the 5-year period from 2003 to 2007 were 7.93–12.54 per 1000 population and 0.22–0.32 per 1000 population, respectively. Prevalence rates according to age increased sharply after 50 years and reached a peak at 70 years. The total socioeconomic cost of herpes zoster was $75.9–143.8 million per year, increasing every year by 14–20%. Conclusions: There is a heavy socioeconomic burden due to herpes zoster in Korea and indicate that appropriate policies need to be established to reduce this burden. Additional researches are also necessary to assess the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a herpes zoster vaccine in the Korean population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Fatty acid-bearing albumin [FA(+) albumin] exerts more deleterious effects in tubular cells than albumin alone. We investigated the effect of FA(+) albumin on the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and elucidated the underlying signaling pathways. We further examined the effect of L-carnitine, since it was known to modulate intracellular fatty acid concentration. Methods: Activation of AP-1 and NF-κB was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Phosphorylation of protein kinase was examined by Western blot analysis. VCAM-1 mRNA and protein expression were measured by Northern blot analysis and cell ELISA. Results: FA(+) albumin induced VCAM-1 expression via activation of AP-1 and NF-κB, which was mediated through activation of c-Src kinase, followed by MAP kinases (p38, ERK 1/2, JNK-1) and IκB kinase and IκB-α, respectively. Inhibitors of protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase, anti-oxidants and intracellular calcium chelator suppressed the FA(+) albumin-induced activation of c-Src kinase. L-Carnitine suppressed the FA(+) albumin-induced VCAM-1 expression via inhibition of c-Src kinase. Conclusions: VCAM-1 expression with activation of c-Src kinase-AP-1/NFκB pathways might be one of the possible mechanisms that linked FA(+) albumin to tubulointerstitial injury. L-Carnitine might be beneficial in attenuating FA(+) albumin-induced tubular injury. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bmp signaling has been shown to regulate early aspects of pancreas development, but its role in endocrine, and especially β-cell, differentiation remains unclear. Taking advantage of the ability in zebrafish embryos to cell-autonomously modulate Bmp signaling in single cells, we examined how Bmp signaling regulates the ability of individual endodermal cells to differentiate into D-cells. We find that specific temporal windows of Bmp signaling prevent β-cell differentiation. Thus, future dorsal bud-derived β-cells are sensitive to Bmp signaling specifically during gastrulation and early somitogenesis stages. In contrast, ventral pancreatic cells, which require an early Bmp signal to form, do not produce β-cells when exposed to Bmp signaling at 50 hpf, a stage when the ventral bud-derived extrapancreatic duct is the main source of new endocrine cells. Importantly, inhibiting Bmp signaling within endodermal cells via genetic means increased the number of β-cells. at early and late stages. Moreover, inhibition of Bmp signaling in the late stage embryo using dorsomorphin, a chemical inhibitor of Bmp receptors, significantly increased β-cell neogenesis near the extrapancreatic duct, demonstrating the feasibility of pharmacological approaches to increase β-ceIl numbers. Our in vivo single-cell analyses show that whereas Bmp signaling is necessary initially for formation of the ventral pancreas, differentiating endodermal cells need to be protected from exposure to Bmps during specific stages to permit β-cell differentiation. These results provide important unique insight into the intercellular signaling environment necessary for in vivo and in vitro generation of β-cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on the investigation of the characteristics of construction sites in terms of AR technology suitability, this paper introduces the application of a new framework of ubiquitous augmented reality (AR) technology (titled U-AR) to a construction site where high mobility, free from occlusion, good accuracy, and expandability into large scale applications play a key role in meeting the practical requirements. U-AR is intended to enhance accessibility to the distributed networks that provide a gateway between a physical construction site and the digital information of AR. To illustrate the U-AR system, the detailed schematic architecture of the AR display technique, motion tracking method, and server implementation is discussed throughout the preliminary studies. The proposed architectures of U-AR present a direction of what technologies regarding display, tracker, and server should be focused for the development of the compelling U-AR. It is found that the proposed U-AR is expected to be the best suitable technology to provide AR-based visual information in construction sites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to compare the safety and technical accessibility of linear stapler and curved cutter stapler (CCS) during mid to low rectal cancer surgery. Between April and November 2006, 60 patients were randomly assigned to either linear staplers (DST TA®; United States Surgical, Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Norwalk, CT) or the CCS (Contour Curved Cutter Stapler®; Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH) during low anterior resection for mid to low rectal cancers. There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, and mean carcinoembryonic antigen level between the two groups. Distal resection margin was longer in the CCS group as compared with the linear stapler group but did not reach statistical significance (24.7 vs. 20.8 mm, P = 0.065). There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications. In this study, both the CCS and linear staplers were satisfactory devices for securing the distal rectum during low anterior resection in mid to low rectal cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent item set mining is one of the most challenging issues for descriptive data mining. In general, its resulting set tends to produce a large number of frequent item sets. To represent them in a more compact notation, closed or maximal frequent item sets are often used but finding such item sets over online transactional data streams is not easy due to the requirements of a data stream. For this purpose, this paper proposes a method of tracing the set of MFIs instantly over an online data stream. The method, namely estMax, maintains the set of frequent item sets by a prefix tree and extracts all MFIs without any additional superset/subset checking mechanism. Upon processing a new transaction, those frequent item sets that are matched maximally by the transaction are newly marked in their corresponding nodes of the prefix tree as candidates for MFIs. At the same time, if any subset of a newly marked item set has been already marked as a candidate MFI by a previous transaction, it is cleared as well. By employing this additional step, it is possible to extract the set of MFIs at any moment. The performance of the estMax method is comparatively analyzed by a series of experiments to identify its various characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant reduction of renal mass initiates a series of hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic events which lead to proteinuria, glomeruloscierosis, tubulointerstitial injury, and end-stage renal failure. Lipid mediators derived from fatty acids participate in regulation of renal hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic processes that influence progression of renal disease. Composition of cellular fatty acids and hence related signaling responses are influenced by their dietary contents. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids (O-3FA) has proven effective in mitigating atherosclerosis. We tested the hypothesis that O-3FA supplementation may retard progression and attenuate upregulation of pathways involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in rats with renal mass reduction. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy [chronic renal failure (CRF)] and randomly assigned to the untreated and O-3FA-treated (0.3 g·kg-1·day-1 by gastric gavage for 12 wk) groups. Sham-operated rats served as controls. The untreated CRF rats exhibited proteinuria, hypertension, azotemia, upregulations of renal tissue NAD(P)H oxidase, MCP-1, COX-2, PM-i, TGF-β, Smad2, α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and hepatocyte growth factor, activation of ERK1/2 and NF-κB, downregulation of Smad7, intense mononuclear leukocyte infiltration, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and glomerulosclerosis. O-3FA supplementation significantly lowered COX-2, NAD(P)H oxidase (NOX-4, gp91phox, p47phox, p22phox), PAI-1, TGF-β, connective tissue growth factor, α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, Smad2, and MCP1, raised Smad7, and attenuated ERK1/2 and NF-κB activation, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and inflammation. Thus, long-term O-3FA supplementation can reduce or reverse upregulation of prooxidant, proinflammatory, and profibrotic pathways and attenuate tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the remnant kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thermally evaporated tungsten oxide (WO3) films are investigated as a buffer layer on anodes to improve the performance of bulk-heterojunction solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM-60). Characterization of the WO3 film under study shows that it is amorphous with the conductivity on the order of 10−6 S/cm and can effectively planarize an originally rough ITO surface down to the RMS roughness of 0.88nm. Insertion of 5–30nm-thick WO3 layers resulted in power conversion efficiency and fill factor as high as 3.1% and 0.70, respectively, showing an improvement with a good batch-to-batch consistency over conventional cells. The observed improvement is related mainly to the relatively large shunt resistance of WO3-based cells under illumination that is linked to a low carrier recombination resulting in high fill factor and open-circuit voltage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article provides information on the establishment of correct connectivity between neurons and target cells. He notes of the remodeling of axons and connections which are needed for a precise neural connectivity. He mentions that neurons formulate exuberant axonal and dendritic processes which should undergo selective elimination to form mature neural circuits. He investigates on the cellular and molecular players of neural debris clearance.

Today’s sensor technology provides the increased opportunities for automation and improvement in data acquisition and construction processes. However, many current field practices at construction sites still rely on manual processes for asset tracking and information handling. Previous technologies, such as radio frequency identification and global positioning systems, do not provide a solution to automated asset tracking because of their limitations in terms of applicability and performance in a typical construction environment. This paper introduces a new development of an embedded sensor system for construction asset tracking by combining radio and ultrasound signals. We present the detailed hardware and software architecture and have implemented outdoor experiments to examine the accuracy and performance of the designed system. The results obtained showed the accurate distance and position estimation with enhanced networking flexibility. The findings and lessons learned from this research demonstrate the potential for future practical deployment of similar systems in many civil engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's mobile and remote construction applications, such as tracking of materials, equipment, and workers, demand high reliability and scalability of wireless sensor networks for a large-scale construction site. In particular, identifying the location of distributed mobile entities throughout wireless communications becomes the primary task to realize the remote tracking and monitoring of the construction assets. Even though several alternative solutions have been introduced by utilizing recent technologies, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and the global positioning system (GPS), they could not provide a solid direction to accurate and scalable tracking frameworks in large-scale construction domains due to limited capability and inflexible networking architectures. This article introduces a new tracking architecture using wireless sensor modules and shows an accuracy performance using a numerical simulation approach based on the time-of-flight method. By combining radio frequency (RF) and ultrasound (US) signals, the simulation results showed an enhanced accuracy performance over the utilization of an RF signal only. The proposed approach can provide potential guidelines for further exploration of hardware/software design and for experimental analysis to implement the framework of tracking construction assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: n-ZnO:Ga/p-GaN:Mg heterojunction light emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated at different growth temperatures and carrier concentrations in the n-type region. The effects of growth temperature and carrier concentration on the electrical and emission properties were investigated. The I–V and EL results showed that the improved device performances such as lower turn-on voltage and true ultraviolet emission were achieved with the insertion of a thin intrinsic layer between n-ZnO:Ga and p-GaN:Mg. This observation was attributed to a lowering of energy barriers for the supply of electrons and holes into intrinsic ZnO and recombination in the intrinsic ZnO with the absence of deep-level emission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tracking and monitoring the location of materials on a construction job site is an important, yet commonly overlooked aspect of field data acquisition because timely information about the status of materials, equipment, tools, and labor resources are directly related to the successful completion of a project. With the advanced technologies and innovations in the construction industry, it has become technically viable to implement automated tracking for construction materials. Through the development of an embedded sensor system, this paper illustrates the implementation of pilot experiments examining the accuracy of a system’s performance. A cost-benefit analysis is conducted to illustrate labor savings associated with construction materials handling by comparison between manual and sensor-based materials tracking. The presented embedded sensor system can be extended into diverse application areas in tracking and monitoring framework by providing improved method of field data acquisition and information management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic response of a bridge under traffic load induces acoustic energy at the bridge surface. The acoustic energy change generates an additional coupled noise component caused by vibration of a bridge deck associated with the pavement conditions and moving velocity of the vehicle. This paper presents a three-dimensional finite-element method developed for the dynamic response and noise propagation model, and analyzes the coupled effect induced by traffic loading based on different pavement conditions. Even though vibration-induced noise at the bridge is below the audible frequency range of 20–20,000 Hz, it amplifies the traffic noise source to the highly annoyed level of noise in the metropolitan area. Among several factors that contribute to the traffic noise, interaction between pavement and vehicle is considered according to the different surface roughness and vehicle velocity. The result shows that poor pavement condition contributes to the increase of traffic noise at a high traveling speed of the vehicle. In the pavement maintenance stage, the coupled effect as an additional noise source should be considered to mitigate the traffic noise for its added value in conjunction with regulation of engine emission noise and construction of a noise barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The goal of this study was to develop an image processing method to detect green citrus fruit in individual trees. This technology can be applied for crop yield estimation at a much earlier stage of growth, providing many benefits to citrus growers. A hyperspectral camera of 369–1042nm was employed to acquire hyperspectral images of green fruits of three different citrus varieties (Tangelo, Valencia, and Hamlin). First, a pixel discrimination function was generated based upon a linear discriminant analysis and applied to all pixels in a hyperspectral image for image segmentation of fruit and other objects. Then, spatial image processing steps (noise reduction filtering, labeling, and area thresholding) were applied to the segmented image, and green citrus fruits were detected. The results of pixel identification tests showed that detection success rates were 70–85%, depending on citrus varieties. The fruit detection tests revealed that 80–89% of the fruit in the foreground of the validation set were identified correctly, though many occluded or highly contrasted fruits were identified incorrectly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The integration of proteome information is one of the key issues in proteomics research. There are currently several proteome databases which provide proteome information such as Swiss-Prot, PDB, and SRS. However, each proteome database system supports only simple inquiries on the proteome information of its database. In order to enhance the analysis support capability of proteome information, this paper proposes a data warehouse system which constructs proteome data by integrating diverse protein information along with clinical and experiment information produced in various methods in order to enhance the analysis support capability of proteome information. Based on the proteome data warehouse, OLAP and exception discovery queries are carried out. Therefore, complex multidimensional analysis is feasible for highly systematized proteome data in a proteome data warehouse. Furthermore, various analysis results which integrate experiment information, clinical information, image information, and spot information of proteins are provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Effective, one-pot syntheses of 2,3-disubstituted furans and thiophenes, exploiting 2-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-3-formylfuran and -thiophene as the respective bifunctional linchpins, have been developed. The synthetic protocol involves multicomponent type II Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC) mediated by a solvent-controlled C(sp2)→O 1,4-Brook rearrangement. Simple organolithiums and α-disubstituted ester enolates prove effective as the initiating nucleophiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) the spatial distribution of bio-cake porosity on the membrane module is very important in the detection of local membrane biofouling, which is directly related to efficient membrane-cleaning and energy consumption. In this study, the local bio-cake porosity was determined experimentally and correlated with the local flux measured by a newly developed experimental method. This exercise made it possible to suggest the optimum position of an aerator in the reactor to obtain minimal membrane biofouling. The local transmembrane pressure (TMP) on the membrane module became bigger and bigger as the distance from the local position to the suction pump became nearer and nearer owing to the pressure drop inside the hollow fiber lumen. A good correlation was found between the local TMP distribution and the local porosity of bio-cake formed on the membrane surface which was measured by a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and image analysis technique. The bio-cake formed on a local position of the membrane near the suction pump was more easily compressed by higher TMP, and thus its porosity became lower. From this local porosity distribution on the membrane the effect of aerator positions on the membrane biofouling was studied. Under identical mixing intensity, the positioning of a diffused aerator near the suction pump was the most effective location for the alleviation of the membrane fouling because the porosity of bio-cake at that location was the smallest, and thus the worst biofouling took place. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]