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Hydride formation in Zr-containing amorphous alloys as an experimental artifact was investigated utilizing atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy, and focused ion beam with normal and cryogenic conditions. The amount of hydrogen existing in the atom probe specimens decreased significantly by utilizing focused ion beam milling under cryogenic condition. Also, the formation of hydride was confirmed by diffraction pattern analysis in the remaining tip of the specimen after the atom probe tomography experiment. With those collected pieces of evidence, sources of hydrogen in the atom probe tomography were discussed.

BackgroundHemispatial neglect (HSN) was diagnosed using a virtual reality-based test (FOPR test) that explores the field of perception (FOP) and field of regard (FOR). Here, we developed virtual reality-visual exploration therapy (VR-VET) combining elements from the FOPR test and visual exploration therapy (VET) and examined its efficacy for HSN rehabilitation following stroke.MethodsEleven participants were randomly assigned to different groups, training with VR-VET first then waiting without VR-VET training (TW), or vice versa (WT). The TW group completed 20 sessions of a VR-VET program using a head-mounted display followed by 4 weeks of waiting, while the WT group completed the opposite regimen. Clinical HSN measurements [line bisection test (LBT), star cancellation test (SCT), Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS), CBS perceptual-attentional (CBS-PA), and CBS motor-explanatory (CBS-ME)] and FOPR tests [response time (RT), success rate (SR), and head movement (HM) for both FOP and FOR] were assessed by blinded face-to-face assessments.ResultsFive and six participants were allocated to the TW and WT groups, respectively, and no dropout occurred throughout the study. VR-VET considerably improved LBT scores, FOR variables (FOR-RT, FOR-SR), FOP-LEFT variables (FOP-LEFT-RT, FOP-LEFT-SR), and FOR-LEFT variables (FOR-LEFT-RT, FOR-LEFT-SR) compared to waiting without VR-VET. Additionally, VR-VET extensively improved FOP-SR, CBS, and CBS-PA, where waiting failed to make a significant change. The VR-VET made more improvements in the left hemispace than in the right hemispace in FOP-RT, FOP-SR, FOR-RT, and FOR-SR.ConclusionThe observed improvements in clinical assessments and FOPR tests represent the translatability of these improvements to real-world function and the multi-dimensional effects of VR-VET training.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03463122, identifier NCT03463122.

Grain boundaries typically dominate the electrical properties of polycrystalline ceramics. To understand the effect of grain boundaries on the electrical conductivity of SiC ceramics sintered with 2000 ppm Y2O3, the electrical resistivity of individual grains and multi-grains across boundaries at the micron scale was measured using a nano-probing system equipped with nano-manipulators. The results revealed that grain resistivity was bimodal because of the existence of a core/rim structure in grains, and the electrical resistivity of multigrain samples slowly increased with an increase in the number of grain boundaries crossed. Specifically, the electrical resistivity of a grain without a core, a grain with a core, a bicrystal with a single boundary, a sample crossing three boundaries, and a bulk polycrystalline sample were 2.36 × 10-1, 5.05 × 10-1, 4.80 × 10-1, 5.04 × 10-1, and 5.84 × 10-1 Ω cm, respectively. The results suggest that the electrical resistivity of polycrystalline SiC ceramics is primarily influenced by the presence of a grain boundary or core and secondarily by the number of boundaries.

To investigate the effectiveness of hydraulic pressure-assisted sinus augmentation (SA) in a rabbit sinus model in terms of radiographical and histological healing.Bilateral SA was performed in 12 rabbits. Each sinus was randomly assigned to either a hydraulic pressure-assisted SA (test) or a conventional SA (control) group. Healing periods of 2 and 4 weeks were applied (n = 6 for each week). Healing pattern including newly formed bone (NB) and residual bone substitute material (RM) was analyzed with microcomputed tomographically, histologically, and histomorphometrically.No sinus membrane perforation was detected in either group. In the microcomputed tomographic analysis, the test group exhibited higher apico-coronal spread of RM compared to the control group (p 0.05). Particularly, the test group exhibited several masses of NB out of the cluster of RM. Histologically, the test group showed an elongated shape of the augmented space, whereas the control group generally presented a dome shape. Histomorphometrically, the total augmented area and the area of NB (1.32 ± 0.56 vs. 0.84 ± 0.40 mmHydraulic pressure-assisted SA led to new bone formation in the distant areas from the bony access hole, but similar histological healing pattern to conventional SA.Hydraulic pressure-assisted SA is a promising option for treating pneumatized posterior maxilla.

Nature materials (2021). doi:10.1038/s41563-021-01064-6, Published by Nature Publishing Group, Basingstoke

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer to cause liver cancer related deaths worldwide. Zinc finger protein 746 (ZNF746), initially identified as a Parkin-interacting substrate (PARIS), acts as a transcriptional repressor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in Parkinson's disease. As recent studies reported that PARIS is associated with cancer onset, we investigated whether PARIS is associated with HCC. We found an increase in insoluble parkin and PARIS accumulation in the liver of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-injected mice, leading to the downregulation of PGC-1α and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1). Interestingly, the occurrence of DEN-induced tumors was significantly alleviated in the livers of DEN-injected PARIS knockout mice compared to DEN-injected wild-type mice, suggesting that PARIS is involved in DEN-induced hepatocellular tumorigenesis. Moreover, H2O2-treated Chang liver cells showed accumulation of PARIS and downregulation of PGC-1α and NRF1. Thus, these results suggest that PARIS upregulation by oncogenic stresses can promote cancer progression by suppressing the transcriptional level of PGC-1α, and the modulation of PARIS can be a promising therapeutic target for HCC.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effect of self-esteem and spouse support on prenatal depression.Methods: The subjects were 131 pregnant women who visited two women clinics located in Changwon City. Data were collected from September 25 to November 20, 2019, and the self-report questionnaire included spouse support, self-esteem, and prenatal depression. The collected data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 23.0 using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis.Results: Prenatal depression had a significant negative correlation with self-esteem (r=-0.39, p=0.001) and spouse support (r=-0.36, p

Objective To translate the Stroke Rehabilitation Motivation Scale (SRMS), developed to evaluate the motivation level of stroke patients during rehabilitation, into the Korean language and to verify the reliability and validity of the Korean version of SRMS (K-SRMS).Methods The K-SRMS was developed following a structured process that included translation, verification, compromise assessment, reverse translation, feedback, and final correction. K-SRMS reliability was evaluated by performing internal consistency and test–retest analyses. The reliability test was conducted in 50 stroke patients. Its validity was assessed by comparing the K-SRMS with the scale and performing exploratory factor analysis. The validity test was conducted in 102 stroke patients.Results The test–retest analysis showed good reliability, and the internal consistency of the K-SRMS was similar to that of the original version for all, except 4, items. Thus, these 4 items were excluded, and then the validity test was conducted. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the K-SRMS score was significantly correlated with the BAS total score (Pearson r=0.207, p

Although Krüppel-associated box domain-containing zinc-finger proteins (K-ZNFs) may be associated with sophisticated gene regulation in higher organisms, the physiological functions of most K-ZNFs remain unknown. The Zfp212 protein was highly conserved in mammals and abundant in the brain; it was mainly expressed in the cerebellum (Cb). Zfp212 (mouse homolog of human ZNF212) knockout (Zfp212-KO) mice showed a reduction in survival rate compared to wild-type mice after 20 months of age. GABAergic Purkinje cell degeneration in the Cb and aberrant locomotion were observed in adult Zfp212-KO mice. To identify genes related to the ataxia-like phenotype of Zfp212-KO mice, 39 ataxia-associated genes in the Cb were monitored. Substantial alterations in the expression of ataxin 10, protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit beta, protein kinase C gamma, and phospholipase D3 (Pld3) were observed. Among them, Pld3 alone was tightly regulated by Flag-tagged ZNF212 overexpression or Zfp212 knockdown in the HT22 cell line. The Cyclic Amplification and Selection of Targets assay identified the TATTTC sequence as a recognition motif of ZNF212, and these motifs occurred in both human and mouse PLD3 gene promoters. Adeno-associated virus-mediated introduction of human ZNF212 into the Cb of 3-week-old Zfp212-KO mice prevented Purkinje cell death and motor behavioral deficits. We confirmed the reduction of Zfp212 and Pld3 in the Cb of an alcohol-induced cerebellar degeneration mouse model, suggesting that the ZNF212–PLD3 relationship is important for Purkinje cell survival.

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are promising sustainable and efficient electrochemical energy conversion devices. The application of a bilayer electrolyte comprising wide electrolytic oxide and highly conductive oxide is essential to lower the operating temperatures while maintaining high performance. However, a structurally and chemically ideal bilayer has been unattainable through cost-effective conventional ceramic processes. Here, we describe a strategy of naturally diffused sintering aid allowing the fabrication of defect-free doped-zirconia/doped-ceria bilayer electrolyte with full density and reduced interdiffusion layer at lower sintering temperature owing to the supply of small but appropriate amount of sintering aid from doped zirconia to doped ceria that makes the thermal shrinkages of both layers perfectly congruent. The resulting SOCs exhibit a minimal ohmic loss of 0.09 ohm cm

Background: Mangosteen and propolis extracts (MAEC) have been potential therapeutic agents known to exhibit powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the clinical and immunological efficacy of MAEC as well as safety and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) on gingivitis and incipient periodontitis. Methods: This study was performed on 104 patients diagnosed with gingivitis or incipient periodontitis. At baseline, the participants were randomly allocated to either the test group, with daily intake of a single capsule containing 194 mg of MAEC for eight weeks, or control group, with placebo. Clinical periodontal evaluation and immunological parameters from saliva and gingival sulcular fluid were assessed at baseline, four, and eight weeks. Individual PROMs were assessed by OHIP-14 questionnaires. Results: There was a significant difference of modified gingival index at four and eight weeks between the test and control groups. In the test group, crevicular interleukin (IL)-6 was reduced, and the salivary matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 was increased after eight weeks. PROMs were improved up to four weeks compared to placebo. Conclusion: Oral administration of MAEC would have a potential to reduce gingival inflammation clinically and immunologically in the patients with gingivitis and incipient periodontitis.

Modular snake robot has the ability to maneuver narrow, complex, and unstructured environments. In recent years, Snake robot with 3-D locomotion has been studied by researchers for inspection of pipes, and stairs climbing etc. One of the effective approaches to accomplishing such complex tasks is by designing gaits for modular snake robot. In this paper, A Spiral curve gait along with rolling motion is proposed to adapt to the changes in the pipe diameter while moving on the pipe, which cannot be overcome by a simple helical rolling motion. The joint angles are calculated using Bellow’s model, based on the curvature and torsion of the backbone curve. We validated the proposed gait by simulating thirty degrees of freedom modular snake robot in Open Dynamics Engine simulator.

This letter presents three novel contributions for the two-dimensional laser scan data. First, a low-level point feature detector for stable interest point detection. Second, an approach for high-level B-splines features extraction, and finally, a local descriptor for the interest points based on the shape context representation of the uniformly distributed points on the B-splines features. The clues of stable interest points obtained from the detector are used in the B-splines features extraction from the scan data, which enables lightweight and accurate mapping of the environment using fewer control points instead of scan data points. This letter also proposes benchmark metrics to evaluate the performance of the extracted high-level features approach in comparison with the state-of-the-art methodology. A robust descriptor for the interest points offers an efficient association and correspondence matching. Consistent results compared with the state-of-the-art FALKO-BSC and FLIRT- β -Grid features in experiments with standard datasets prove the stability of our proposed interest point detector and the proficiency of the descriptor. The results of efficient localization using the pair are also presented.

Determination of the metagenome has become an important component of forensic identification, which requires efficient environmental sampling techniques. Therefore, in this study, we compared the efficiency of sample collection using swabbing with cotton swabs and three types of medical swabs (S7, S22, S24) along with three different solutions: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 1% Tween 20 + 1% glycerol in PBS (TG), and GS commercial solution (Noble Bio, Hwaseong, Republic of Korea). Combinations of the three solutions with the three types of swabs were tested at different volumes (cotton swab, S7: 0, 30, 50, 70 μL; S22, S24: 0, 70, 100, 130 μL). Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were selected as representative environmental microbial samples, and the number of colony-forming units (CFUs), DNA concentration, and DNA copy numbers were compared across groups. The sampling process had a clear effect on the efficiency of extraction, which allowed for determination of a more efficient sample sampling method. In particular, cotton swabs showed 2–10-fold greater CFUs of both species than the medical swabs, and resulted in significantly greater amounts of extracted DNA. TG was found to be the most efficient solution for bacterial DNA extraction, with higher CFUs and DNA obtained than with the other three solutions at all volumes tested. This study highlights the need for a standardized sampling method that can be applied to all environmental samples, especially for microbial quantification, and provides valuable reference data for the efficient collection of environmental samples for metagenomic analyses in microbial-based forensic assessments.

We propose a new method for preparing atom probe tomography specimens from nanoparticles using a fusible bismuth–indium–tin alloy as an embedding medium. Iron nanoparticles synthesized by the sodium borohydride reduction method were chosen as a model system. The as-synthesized iron nanoparticles were embedded within the fusible alloy using focused ion beam milling and ion-milled to needle-shaped atom probe specimens under cryogenic conditions. An atom probe analysis revealed boron atoms in a detected iron nanoparticle, indicating that boron from the sodium borohydride reductant was incorporated into the nanoparticle during its synthesis.

Although Neoproterozoic rocks were recently found in the western margin of the Gyeonggi Massif, no Neoproterozoic rocks were believed to be present within the interior of this massif. However, in this study, Neoproterozoic rocks are recognized for the first time within the interior of the Gyeonggi Massif through the discovery of the Neoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Gapyeong Formation (GF). The GF is located in the Gapyeong area within the northern Gyeonggi Massif to the north of the Permo-TriassicHongseong-Odesan continental collision boundary in South Korea. The GF mainly consists of mafic granulite interlayered with metacalcsilicate, marble, biotite gneiss, and metatrachyandesite and contains a serpentinized ultramafic block and hornblende biotite gneiss slab. The ages and whole-rock geochemistry indicate that the interlayered metatrachyandesite and mafic granulite in the GF were trachyandesite and basalt that formed through bimodal volcanism in a continental rift tectonic setting at ca. 854 Ma, which matches the timing of the Rodinia supercontinent breakup. The GF can be correlated to the 900–850 Ma Neoproterozoic rifting sequences in the southern Nangrim and northern Gyeonggi Massifs in the Korean Peninsula, which can be correlated to the 930–830 Ma Neoproterozoic rifting sequence along the southern margin of the North China Craton. The GF is difficult to correlate with the ca. 890–790 Ma subduction-related Neoproterozoic rocks in the Hongseong area in the southwestern Gyeonggi Massif, which are considered equivalent to rocks in the northern margin of the South China Craton. The GF underwent upper granulite-facies metamorphism (816–882 °C, 9.0–10.9 kbar) at ca. 250 Ma during the collision between the North and South China Cratons. The serpentinite block in the GF formed in a suprasubduction zone, and the hornblende biotite gneiss slab in the GF was metamorphosed under lower granulite-facies conditions (725–767 °C, 7.0–8.4 kbar) at ca. 414 Ma, indicating that the block and slab were tectonically incorporated into the GF. A strong mylonitic texture is observed in the GF but not in the basement Paleoproterozoic gneiss except at its boundary contact with the GF. These data indicate that the GF, together with the serpentinite block and hornblende biotite gneiss slab, was tectonically transported to the present area after the Triassic metamorphism.

α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a hallmark amyloidogenic protein component of Lewy bodies in dopaminergic neurons affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). Despite the multi-faceted gene regulation of α-syn in the nucleus, the mechanism underlying α-syn crosstalk in chromatin remodeling in PD pathogenesis remains elusive. Here, we identified transcriptional adapter 2-alpha (TADA2a) as a novel binding partner of α-syn using the BioID system. TADA2a is a component of the p300/CBP-associated factor and is related to histone H3/H4 acetylation. We found that α-syn A53T was more preferentially localized in the nucleus than the α-syn wild-type (WT), leading to a stronger disturbance of TADA2a. Indeed, α-syn A53T significantly reduced the level of histone H3 acetylation in SH-SY5Y cells, its reduction was also evident in the striatum (STR) and substantia nigra (SN) of mice that were stereotaxically injected with α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs). Interestingly, α-syn PFF injection resulted in a decrease in TADA2a in the STR and SN of α-syn PFF-injected mice. Furthermore, the levels of TADA2a and acetylated histone H3 were significantly decreased in the SN of patients with PD. Therefore, histone modification through α-syn A53T-TADA2a interaction may be associated with α-syn-mediated neurotoxicity in PD pathology.

Background We previously proposed a novel virtual reality-based method to assess human field of perception (FOP) and field of regard (FOR), termed the FOPR test. This study assessed the diagnostic validity of the FOPR test for hemispatial neglect (HSN). Methods We included 19 stroke patients with a lesion in the right hemisphere and with HSN (HSN+SS), 22 stroke patients with a lesion in the right hemisphere and without HSN (HSN−SS), and 22 healthy controls aged 19–65 years. The success rate (SR) and response time (RT) in the FOPR test for both FOP and FOR were assessed (FOP-SR, FOR-SR, FOP-RT, and FOR-RT, respectively). Using a Bland–Altman plot, agreements between the FOPR test and conventional tests were confirmed, and the FOPR test accuracy was verified using the support vector machine (SVM). Measured values were analysed using ANOVA and Kruskall–Wallis tests for group comparison. Results The Bland–Altman plot showed good agreement between FOPR test and conventional tests; individuals within 95% agreement limits were within the range of 94.8–100.0%. The SVM classification accuracy, using FOP and FOR variables from the left hemispace, ranged from 83.3 to 100.0% in a binary classification (HSN vs non-HSN). The FOPR test demonstrated differences in SR and RT for both FOP and FOR across the groups. Conclusion The FOPR test was valid for the HSN diagnosis and provided quantitative and intuitive information regarding visuospatial function. Furthermore, it might enhance our understanding of visuospatial function including HSN by applying the time relative component and concepts of perception and exploration, FOP and FOR. Trial registration: NCT03463122. Registered 13 March 2018, retrospectively registered.

Additional file 1:Table 1. The performance of SVM accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for binary-classifier (HSN vs non-HSN).