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The distribution of metabolic and obesity phenotypes in Taiwanese medical personnel is unknown. In this study, trajectory analysis with repeated measurements was used to explore the development and associated risk factors of different metabolic and obesity phenotypes in hospital staff from a Taiwanese medical center. The results demonstrated that metabolically unhealthy workers presented with a higher body mass index (BMI) compared with their metabolically healthy counterparts. Male and aged > 40 years hospital workers were more likely to be in a deleterious metabolic/obesity state. Meanwhile, profession and working hours were not significantly associated with the development of certain phenotypes in our study. These results shed light on the necessity of adequate data retrieval regarding working hours, and a nuanced examination of working conditions among different professions. Our findings are helpful for the development of advanced guidance regarding health promotion in hospital workers.

Acoustic cavitation plays a key role in blood-brain-barrier opening. Stable cavitation is required for safely transient barrier disruption when inertial cavitation may cause potentially undesirable damage to brain. To ensure the safety, an appropriate passive cavitation detector is needed to monitor cavitation activity during focused ultrasound treatment. The purpose of this study was to develop a passive cavitation detector with high sensitivity at the specific frequency used in blood-brain-barrier opening. The detector was designed with the assistance of pulse-echo response simulations, using the software PiezoCAD. The active transducer of the detector was constructed of two matching layers, a PZT-5A ceramic disk and the titanium backing. The detector was characterized via the pulse-echo measurements and a commercial hydrophone was used to determine the sensitivity of the developed detector. Cavitation experiments were also performed to validate the detector. The experimental results showed that the detector had the center frequency of 1.16 MHz with the bandwidth of 44.8% and its sensitivity was 2.87 V/MPa at 1.0 MHz. In cavitation experiments, 2-MHz focused ultrasound with the focal intensity of 58 W/cm2 and 1461 W/cm2 induced stable cavitation and inertial cavitation in free field, separately. The spectra of the ultrasound signals detected by the detector indicated the occurrence of peak voltages at the subharmonic frequency of 1 MHz and the increase in the level of wideband signals, reflecting stable cavitation and inertial cavitation, respectively. Based on the design guideline of this study, the passive cavitation detector can be developed dedicated for blood-brain-barrier opening.

The reaction of 2,4-dimethoxy-5-iodopyrimidine (8) and 3,5-di-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl protected ribofuranoid glycal 4 was carried out with Pd(OAc)2 as the catalyst, PPh3 as the ligand and Et3N as the base in DMF at 70 °C followed by desilylation to afford exclusively the β-anomer of 5-(2,3-dideoxy-3-oxoribofuranosyl)-2,4-dimethoxypyrimidine (11) in a very good yield. The subsequent protecting group and functional group interconversions furnished pseudouridine (Ψ, 1).

Two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride has been discovered for piezoelectric property in response to mechanical deformation. However, the quantitative measurement of piezoelectric effects in hexagonal boron nitride and its applicability are still explored. Here, we demonstrated the synthesis of boron nitride nanoflakes by mechanochemical exfoliation and employed the electrochemical method to quantitatively evaluate the piezoelectric performance of the nanoflakes deposited on carbon paper substrate under ultrasonic circumstances. The charge was reached up to 69.29 μC calculated from cyclic voltammogram at 30 mV/s sweep rate under 2.976 MPa induced by ultrasound. The net increased charge was 49.54 μC/mm 2 at 2.976 MPa. The output current was measured up to ~597 pA/mm 2 and positive shift of output voltage shifted from -600 mV to -450 mV. In addition, we observed that the piezoelectric performance linearly increased with pressure induced by ultrasound. Ultrasound-mediated boron nitride nanoflakes paves the new routes for applications of energy and biomedical field.

The disorders of the sodium concentration [Na+] are body fluid osmolality disorders called dysnatremias. They are so named because our clinical chemistry measurements are obtained from blood plasma, part of the extracellular fluid (ECF), where Na+ is the dominant osmole. Since water is highly permeable to nearly all plasma membranes, and body water osmolality is regulated, it is the amount of the major ECF cation, Na+, and its associated anions that determines the ECF volume. The amount of the major intracellular fluid (ICF) cation, K+, with associated anions determines the volume of the ICF. Thus, accounting for anions that maintain electroneutrality in each compartment, the osmolality of each fluid compartment of the total body water (TBW) is equal to that of TBW itself: $$ \mathrm{Osm}=2\left[\mathrm{ECF}\kern0.5em {\mathrm{Na}}^{+}+\mathrm{ICF}\ {\mathrm{K}}^{+}\right]/\mathrm{TBW} $$ where the units are as follows: Osm, milliosmoles/kg; Na+ and K+, Meq/kg or millimoles/kg.

The main objective of engineering education is to cultivate students to possess capabilities demanded by industries. Of capabilities, creative thinking is the most crucial one. Generally, art-related fields are classified with high creativity while science and engineering are classified as a field dealing with numbers, calculations and realistic phenomena. However, the real-world situation is that students majoring in science and engineering need the skill of creativity to face emerging complicated engineering problems. Our question is that: can art foster creativity of students majoring in science and engineering? This study is to explore link of art and creativity of mater students in science and engineering through the experience of interactive art and aesthetic sense to realize its effect on creativity by using the Processing Software and Leap Motion to create visual and music interactive art works. The total of 70 subjects are students in Colleges of Science and Engineering and College of Electronical Engineering and Computer Science from a university in Taiwan. The research measurement tools are Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults (ATTA) for pretest-posttest research design and the Study Preference Questionnaire (SPQ) to differentiate the cognitive styles. Using descriptive statistics, One-Sample t test, Paired-samples t test, One-Way ANOVA and Pearson Correlation etc. for statistical analysis. Our findings indicate that students in science and technology fields, their creativity falls on average standard (Creative Index, CI), not particularly outperforming. Different genders, cognition styles and different institutes and colleges of master’s degree students in science and technology demonstrated also no significant differences in creativity. Nevertheless, after introducing the experience of visual and music interactive art works, it has significant effect on the creativity of students in science and technology. The study may provide a cross path of art, science and engineering in STEAM education if conducted further.

Background: Disorders of acid-base involve the complex interplay of many organ systems including brain, lungs, kidney, and liver. Compensations for acid-base disturbances within the brain are more complete, while limitations of compensations are more apparent for most systemic disorders. However, some of the limitations on compensations are necessary to survival, in that preservation of oxygenation, energy balance, cognition, electrolyte, and fluid balance are connected mechanistically. Summary: This review aims to give new and comprehensive perspective on understanding acid-base balance and identifying associated disorders. All metabolic acid-base disorders can be approached in the context of the relative losses or gains of electrolytes or a change in the anion gap in body fluids. Acid-base and electrolyte balance are connected not only at the cellular level but also in daily clinical practice. Urine chemistry is essential to understanding electrolyte excretion and renal compensations. Key Messages: Many constructs are helpful to understand acid-base, but these models are not mutually exclusive. Electroneutrality and the close interconnection between electrolyte and acid-base balance are important concepts to apply in acid-base diagnoses. All models have complexity and shortcuts that can help in practice. There is no reason to dismiss any of the present constructs, and there is benefit in a combined approach.

Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is an important regulator of cAMP response element-binding protein-mediated gene expression in various cell types and is the only AMP-activated protein kinase family member known to interact with the p97/valosin-containing protein (VCP) ATPase. Previously, we have demonstrated that SIK2 can regulate autophagy when proteasomal function is compromised. Here we report that physical and functional interactions between SIK2 and p97/VCP underlie the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation (ERAD). SIK2 co-localizes with p97/VCP in the ER membrane and stimulates its ATPase activity through direct phosphorylation. Although the expression of wild-type recombinant SIK2 accelerated the degradation and removal of ERAD substrates, the kinase-deficient variant conversely had no effect. Furthermore, down-regulation of endogenous SIK2 or mutation of the SIK2 target site on p97/VCP led to impaired degradation of ERAD substrates and disruption of ER homeostasis. Collectively, these findings highlight a mechanism by which the interplay between SIK2 and p97/VCP contributes to the regulation of ERAD in mammalian cells.

Purpose To study the genetics and functional alteration of a family with X-linked lissencephaly and subcortical band heterotopia. Methods Five affected patients (one male with lissencephaly, four female with subcortical band heterotopia) and their relatives were studied. Sanger sequencing of DCX gene, allele specific PCR and molecular inversion probe technique were performed. Mutant and wild type of the gene products, namely doublecortin, were expressed in cells followed by immunostaining to explore the localization of doublecortin and microtubules in cells. In vitro microtubule-binding protein spin-down assay was performed to quantify the binding ability of doublecortin to microtubules. Key findings We identified a novel DCX mutation c.785A > G, p.Asp262Gly that segregated with the affected members of the family. Allele specific PCR and molecular inversion probe technique demonstrated that the asymptomatic female carrier had an 8% mutant allele fraction in DNA derived from peripheral leukocytes. This mother had 7 children, 4 of whom were affected and all four affected siblings carried the mutation. Functional study showed that the mutant doublecortin protein had a significant reduction of its ability to bind microtubules. Significance Low level mosaicism could be a cause of inherited risk from asymptomatic parents for DCX related lissencephaly-subcortical band heterotopia spectrum. This is particularly important in terms of genetic counselling for recurrent risk of future pregnancies. The reduced binding affinity of mutant doublecortin may contribute to developmental malformation of the cerebral cortex.

We prepared four differently shaped Te nanomaterials (NMs) as antibacterial reagents against Escherichia coli. By controlling the concentrations of hydrazine (N(2)H(4)) as reducing agent, NaCl, and temperature, we prepared Te nanowires, nanopencils, nanorices, and nanocubes. These four Te NMs resulted in a live/dead ratio of E. coli cells of less than 0.1, which is smaller than that of Ag nanoparticles. The order of antibacterial activity against E. coli is nanocubes ≈ nanorices > nanopencils ≈ nanowires. This is in good agreement with the concentration order of tellurite (TeO(3)(2-)) ions released from Te NMs in E. coli cells, revealing that TeO(3)(2-) ions account for the antibacterial activity of the four Te NMs. We found that spherical Te nanoparticles (32 nm in diameter) with TeO(3)(2-) ions were formed in the E. coli cells. Compared to Ag nanoparticles that are commonly used as antibacterial reagents, Te NMs have higher antibacterial activity and lower toxicity. Thus, Te NMs hold great practical potential as a new and efficient antibacterial agent.

We have developed a simple, colorimetric, and label-free tellurium nanowire (Te NW)-based probe for the detection of mercuryions (Hg(II)) in aqueoussolution, operating on the principle of strong hybridization and galvanic replacement reaction of Te–Hg. The Te NWs (length: 920 nm; diameter: 20 nm) reacted with Hg(II) to induce dissolution and aggregation of the Te NWs. As a result, the absorption band of the Te NWs in a solution undergoes a decrease in the presence of Hg(II). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization measurements demonstrated the presence of Hg on the Te NWs. The Te NW probe specifically and sensitively detected Hg(II) ions under optimal concentrations of pH, temperature, and sodiumdodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration. When using a mixture of Te NWs (3.0 nM) and SDS (5M) in 5 mM sodium phosphate (pH 4) at 50 °C, this sensor provides a limit of detection of 0.5 nMfor Hg(II) (signal-to-noiseratioof 3) with high selectivity(atleast100 fold over other metal ions). Our approach abrogates the need for complicated chemosensors or sophisticated equipment. This cost-effective sensing system allows the rapid and simple determination of the concentrations of Hg(II) ions in real samples (in this case, river, lake, and tap water samples).

Many flexible electronic devices or endovascular biomedical devices require large deformation; however, potential materials produce limited elastic response, that is, 10% when 400% is required. In this article, a finite element model is used to design a hyperelastic thin film nitinol structure containing geometric fenestrations. The hyperelastic response is dependent upon geometric factors that produce buckling. Parametric studies provide the influence-specific parameters have on buckling load. These results are used to select three designs to manufacture and test. Experimental results indicate that elongations greater than 700% are possible.

In this paper, we describe two simple, label-free, homogenous assays using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs)-one to detect coagulation-related proteins and the other to screen inhibition reactions. The first nanosensor functions on the basis of the fact that thrombin catalyzes fibrinogen to form long-chain fibrins, which then induce aggregation of Au NPs. We applied this sensor to study the interactions of thrombin, inhibitors, cofactors, and antidotes. We further used thrombin-conjugated Au NPs (Thr-Au NPs) to analyze the levels of fibrinogen in plasma samples via fibrinogen-induced aggregation of Thr-Au NPs. The limit of detection (LOD; S/N=3) of this sensor for fibrinogen in plasma was 10nM. The Thr-Au NP probe provided quantitative results for fibrinogen in plasma samples that correlated (R(2)=0.97) with those obtained using a clinical von Clauss clotting rate assay. In addition, the Thr-Au NP-based sensor could be used to monitor thrombin concentrations in plasma samples under physiological conditions. Compared with conventional assays, these label-free assays offer several advantages, such as rapid and simple readout by the naked eye or by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy.

In this paper, a novel grey‐based feature ranking method for feature subset selection is proposed. The classification effectiveness of each attribute of a specific classification problem is proposed and then each attribute can be ranked. Features with higher classification effectiveness are more important and relevant and thus considered as the final feature subset for pattern classification. Experiments performed on various application domains are reported to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach. The proposed approach yields better performance than other existing feature subset selection methods and is helpful for improving the classification accuracy in pattern classification.

Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is the only AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) family member known to interact with protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A). However, the functional aspects of this complex are largely unknown. Here we report that the SIK2-PP2A complex preserves both kinase and phosphatase activities. In this capacity,SIK2 attenuates the association of the PP2A repressor, the protein phosphatase methylesterase-1 (PME-1), thus preserving the methylation status of the PP2A catalytic subunit. Furthermore, the SIK2-PP2A holoenzyme complex dephosphorylates and inactivates Ca2(+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaMKI), an upstream kinase for phosphorylating PME-1/Ser(15). The functionally antagonistic SIK2-PP2A and CaMKI and PME-1 networks thus constitute a negative feedback loop that modulates the phosphatase activity of PP2A. Depletion of SIK2 led to disruption of the SIK2-PP2A complex, activation of CaMKI, and downstream effects, including phosphorylation of HDAC5/Ser(259), sequestration of HDAC5 in the cytoplasm, and activation of myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C)-mediated gene expression. These results suggest that the SIK2-PP2A complex functions in the regulation of MEF2C-dependent transcription. Furthermore, this study suggests that the tightly linked regulatory loop comprised of the SIK2-PP2A and CaMKI and PME-1 networks may function in fine-tuning cell proliferation and stress response.

Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase belonging to the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family. SIK2 has been shown to function in the insulin-signaling pathway during adipocyte differentiation and to modulate CREB-mediated gene expression in response to hormones and nutrients. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of SIK2 kinase activity remains largely elusive. Here we report a dynamic, post-translational regulation of its kinase activity that is coordinated by an acetylation-deaceytlation switch, p300/CBP-mediated Lys-53 acetylation inhibits SIK2 kinase activity, whereas HDAC6-mediated deacetylation restores the activity. Interestingly, overexpression of acetylation-mimetic mutant of SIK2 (SIK2-K53Q), but not the nonacetylatable K53R variant, resulted in accumulation of autophagosomes. Further consistent with a role in autophagy, knockdown of SIK2 abrogated autophagosome and lysosome fusion. Consequently, SIK2 and its kinase activity are indispensable for the removal of TDP-43Δ inclusion bodies. Our findings uncover SIK2 as a critical determinant in autophagy progression and further suggest a mechanism in which the interplay among kinase and deacetylase activities contributes to cellular protein pool homeostasis. Background: Salt-inducible kinase (SIK) 2 is an AMP-activated protein kinase family kinase that mediates hormonal and nutrient signaling but has no known link to cellular stress response. Results: p300/CBP and HDAC6 reciprocally regulates Lys-53 acetylation of SIK2, consequently impacting its activity and function in autophagosome maturation. Conclusion: SIK2 kinase activity, via a acetylation-based regulatory switch, contributes to autophagy progression. Significance: SIK2 may be linked to neurodegenerative or protein aggregate disorders.

We developed a gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-based fluorescence sensor for the detection of mercury ions in aqueous solutions. After introducing bovine serum albumin (BSA) to a solution of rhodamine 6G (R6G) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-modified Au NPs, the as-prepared BSA@R6G/MPA-Au NP probe could sense mercury ions under high salt conditions. This probe operated through a mechanism involving mercury species depositing onto the surfaces of the Au NPs and releasing R6G molecules into the solution, causing the fluorescence intensity of the BSA@R6G/MPA-AuNP solution to increase. We improved the selectivity of the nanosensor by adding masking agents (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and Na2S) or tellurium nanowires (Te NWs) to the sample solutions. In the presence of 1.0 mM EDTA and 10 μM Na2S, the selectivities of this system toward phenylmercury (PhHg(I)) over other metal ions and mercury species were greater than 200- and 10-fold, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD), at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, for PhHg(I) was 20 nM. Selective detection of the total organic mercury (methylmercury (MeHg(I)), ethylmercury (EtHg(I)), and PhHg(I)) was possible when using the BSA@R6G/MPA-Au NPs in conjunction with Te NWs (3.0 nM). The selectivity of this nanosensor system for the total organic mercury over Hg(II) was remarkably high (100-fold) with an LOD for organic mercury of 10 nM. We also demonstrated the feasibility of using the developed nanosensor for rapid determination of mercury species in river, sea, and tap water as well as in fish samples.

A novel hyperelastic thin film NiTi covered neurovascular microstent was developed for treating wide-neck and fusiform neurovascular aneurysms. This device requires 300–500% recoverable elongation for both collapsing and deployment. Nonlinear buckling and static analysis of Finite Element Modeling (FEM: ANSYS software used) was applied for obtaining critical buckling stress and critical strain values depending on thickness, strut width and pore height. A maximum theoretical critical strain for one geometry as high as 316% while a different experimentally tested film was found to strain 600% elastically without any signs of permanent deformation.Copyright © 2010 by ASME

This work presents a novel GA-Taguchi-based feature selection method. Genetic algorithms are utilized with randomness for "global search" of the entire search space of the intractable search problem. Various genetic operations, including crossover, mutation, selection and replacement are performed to assist the search procedure in escaping from sub-optimal solutions. In each iteration in the proposed nature-inspired method, the Taguchi methods are employed for "local search" of the entire search space and thus can help explore better feature subsets for next iteration. The two-level orthogonal array is utilized for a well-organized and balanced comparison of two levels for features--a feature is or is not selected for pattern classification--and interactions among features. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is then used to determine the robustness of the features. As a result, feature subset evaluation efforts can be significantly reduced and a superior feature subset with high classification performance can be obtained. Experiments are performed on different application domains to demonstrate the performance of the proposed nature-inspired method. The proposed hybrid GA-Taguchi-based approach, with wrapper nature, yields superior performance and improves classification accuracy in pattern classification.

In this paper, a novel hybrid Taguchi-Grey-based method for feature subset selection is proposed. The two-level orthogonal array is employed in the proposed method to provide a well-organized and balanced comparison of two levels of each feature (i.e., the feature is selected for pattern classification or not) and interactions among all features in a specific classification problem. That is, this two-dimensional matrix is mainly used to reduce the feature subset evaluation efforts prior to the classification procedure. Accordingly, the grey-based nearest neighbor rule and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are used to evaluate and optimize the features of the specific classification problem. In this manner, important and relevant features can be identified for pattern classification. Experiments performed on different application domains are reported to demonstrate the performance of the proposed hybrid Taguchi-Grey-based method. It can be easily seen that the proposed method yields superior performance and is helpful for improving the classification accuracy in pattern classification.

In this paper, a novel grey-based feature ranking method for feature subset selection is proposed. Experiments performed on various application domains are reported to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach. It can be easily seen that the proposed approach yields high performance and is helpful for pattern classification.

Nitrogen-doped graphene with up to 22.1% N/C atom and 7.15 × 104 Sm−1 electrical conductivity was synthesized by ionic-liquid-assisted electrolysis with subsequent thermal annealing of the resultant ionic-liquid-functionalized graphene sheet.