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Background: While multiple studies have investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its related traits (fasting glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, waist circumference) and DNA methylation, our understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms in MetS remains limited. Therefore, we performed an epigenome-wide meta-analysis of blood DNA methylation to identify differentially methylated probes (DMPs) and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with MetS and its components using two independent cohorts comprising a total of 2,334 participants. We also investigated the specific genetic effects on DNA methylation, identified methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTLs) through genome-wide association studies and further utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess how these meQTLs subsequently influence MetS status. Results: We identified 40 DMPs and 27 DMRs that are significantly associated with MetS. In addition, we identified many novel DMPs and DMRs underlying inflammatory and steroid hormonal processes. The most significant associations were observed in 3 DMPs (cg19693031, cg26974062, cg02988288) and a DMR (chr1:145440444–145441553) at the TXNIP, which are involved in lipid metabolism. These CpG sites were identified as coregulators of DNA methylation in MetS, TG and FAG levels. We identified a total of 144 cis-meQTLs, out of which only 13 were found to be associated with DMPs for MetS. Among these, we confirmed the identified causal mediators of genetic effects at CpG sites cg01881899 at ABCG1 and cg00021659 at the TANK genes for MetS. Conclusions: This study observed whether specific CpGs and methylated regions act independently or are influenced by genetic effects for MetS and its components in the Korean population. These associations between the identified DNA methylation and MetS, along with its individual components, may serve as promising targets for the development of preventive interventions for MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gut microbial dysbiosis is implicated in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the role of microbiomes from various body sites remains unexplored. We assessed disease-specific alterations in the urinary microbiome in HCC patients, investigating their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Methods: We performed cross-sectional analyses of urine samples from 471 HCC patients and 397 healthy controls and validated the results in an independent cohort of 164 HCC patients and 164 healthy controls. Urinary microbiomes were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A microbial marker-based model distinguishing HCC from controls was built based on logistic regression, and its performance was tested. Results: Microbial diversity was significantly reduced in the HCC patients compared with the controls. There were significant differences in the abundances of various bacteria correlated with HCC, thus defining a urinary microbiome-derived signature of HCC. We developed nine HCC-associated genera-based models with robust diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC], 0.89; balanced accuracy, 81.2%). In the validation, this model detected HCC with an AUC of 0.94 and an accuracy of 88.4%. Conclusions: The urinary microbiome might be a potential biomarker for the detection of HCC. Further clinical testing and validation of these results are needed in prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Only 8.6% Asian Americans (AAs) report seeking mental health services compared to nearly 18% of the general population.There is a stigma against seeking mental health services among AAs.Mental illness is thought to be caused by a lack of harmony of emotions or evil spirits leading to delay in treatment among AAs. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Asian students are hesitant to use mental health services because they are balancing their desire to be part of the two cultures.Concepts used to define culture were found to have overlapping aspects of how researchers operationally define them, and few studies examined a combination of these concepts as a means of examining interactions between the concepts.AA emerging adults feel pressure through personal stigma from elders to 'save face' by keeping their problems to themselves or within the family to maintain a positive reputation for the family. What are the implications for practice?: The overlap of conceptual definitions to understand cultural beliefs and values affecting measurement have complicated the interpretation of the research.Future research should include a multidimensional operationalization of culture that includes acculturation, ethnic identity, personal stigma and their effect on mental health help‐seeking attitudes.Differences between South Asian and East Asian philosophical and cultural perspectives could influence access to mental health services; therefore, future studies should consider sampling that would allow for comparison of the groups.Understanding the factors that influence mental health help‐seeking behaviours can determine intervention strategies to improve AA emerging adult mental health. Introduction: Only 8.6% of Asian Americans (AA) sought mental health services compared to 18% of United States population. AA college students report higher levels of mental health concerns compared to White students. Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the factors that influence AA students' mental health help‐seeking behaviours. Method: Employing a data‐based convergent synthesis design. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the quality of the sample. Inclusion criteria were peer‐reviewed studies published in English, focused on AA college students' mental health seeking attitudes in United States. Results: The final sample was forty‐four studies. Four themes emerged: acculturation, ethnic identity, racism and stigma. There were discrepant findings regarding how acculturation affects mental health help‐seeking attitudes. Several studies included more than one theme in their analyses. The different concepts included across studies make it difficult to compare the findings. Discussion: There is some overlap between acculturation and ethnic identity that could affect the analysis in studies where both concepts are included. Personal stigma negatively influences mental health help‐seeking attitudes. Implications for Practice: Defining culture to include acculturation, ethnic identity, personal stigma can help in understanding their effect on mental health help‐seeking attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that play an important role in cancer progression. Although the mechanism by which CAFs promote tumorigenesis has been well investigated, the underlying mechanism of CAFs activation by neighboring cancer cells remains elusive. In this study, we aim to investigate the signaling pathways involved in CAFs activation by gastric cancer cells (GC) and to provide insights into the therapeutic targeting of CAFs for overcoming GC. Methods: Alteration of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity in CAFs was analyzed using phospho-RTK array. The expression of CAFs effector genes was determined by RT-qPCR or ELISA. The migration and invasion of GC cells co-cultured with CAFs were examined by transwell migration/invasion assay. Results: We found that conditioned media (CM) from GC cells could activate multiple receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, including ERK, AKT, and STAT3. Phospho-RTK array analysis showed that CM from GC cells activated PDGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, but only AKT activation was PDGFR-dependent. Furthermore, we found that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a member of the CCN family, was the most pronouncedly induced CAFs effector gene by GC cells. Knockdown of CTGF impaired the ability of CAFs to promote GC cell migration and invasion. Although the PDGFR-AKT pathway was pronouncedly activated in CAFs stimulated by GC cells, its pharmacological inhibition affected neither CTGF induction nor CAFs-induced GC cell migration. Unexpectedly, the knockdown of SRC and SRC-family kinase inhibitors, dasatinib and saracatinib, significantly impaired CTGF induction in activated CAFs and the migration of GC cells co-cultured with CAFs. SRC inhibitors restored the reduced expression of epithelial markers, E-cadherin and Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1), in GC cells co-cultured with CAFs, as well as CAFs-induced aggregate formation in a 3D tumor spheroid model. Conclusions: This study provides a characterization of the signaling pathways and effector genes involved in CAFs activation, and strategies that could effectively inhibit it in the context of GC. DC5ErEG73tsyg3F8WfE1xi Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Advance care planning (ACP) and hospice palliative care (HPC) have potential benefits for individuals and health systems. Public awareness of them might increase their acceptance. Objectives: To examine public awareness of ACP and HPC and related factors including individuals' experience of health care among Korean population. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a nationally representative sample was conducted. Data from participants aged 15 years or older were examined. Socio-demographic characteristics, health-related factors, health care experience in the past year, and awareness of ACP and HPC were analyzed. Subgroup analysis was conducted to determine associations between specific experiences during outpatient visit and awareness of ACP and HPC. Results: Of a total of 13,546 subjects, 39.3% and 35.7% reported awareness of ACP and HPC, respectively. About half (48.6%) of participants reported that they were completely unaware of ACP or HPC. Recent outpatient visit was positively associated with HPC awareness. Participants were more likely to recognize ACP or HPC if they had experience in hospitalization and health checkup over the past year and had trust in the medical system. Conversely, participants who had inadequate health care access due to cost burden showed low awareness of ACP and HPC. Conclusion: There was a lack of public awareness of ACP and HPC. There were significant differences depending on various factors, especially individual health care experiences. Appropriate interventions are needed to facilitate discussion of ACP and HPC, thereby increasing public awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is recognized as a highly versatile scaffold of recombinant antibody fragment molecules, its overexpression in Escherichia coli often leads to the formation of inclusion bodies. To address this issue, we devised and tested four different constructs, named v21, v22, v23 and v24, for producing anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) scFv. Among them, the v24 construct obtained from N-terminal fusion of maltose-binding protein (MBP) and subsequent tobacco etch virus protease (TEV) was identified as the most efficient construct for the production of anti-HER2 scFv. Aided by an MBP tag, high-yield soluble expression was ensured and soluble scFv was liberated in cells via autonomous proteolytic cleavage by endogenously expressed TEV. The isolated scFv containing a C-terminal hexahistidine tag was purified through a one-step purification via nickel-affinity chromatography. The purified scFv exhibited a strong (nanomolar Kd) affinity to HER2 both in vitro and in cells. Structural and functional stabilities of the scFv during storage for more than one month were also assured. Given the great utility of anti-HER2 scFv as a basic platform for developing therapeutic and diagnostic agents for cancers, the v24 construct and methods presented in this study are expected to provide a better manufacturing system for producing anti-HER2 scFv with various industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A cryptic KMT2A/MLLT10 rearrangement was detected in a pediatric patient with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. • NGS detected the cryptic gene fusion, not detected by traditional chromosome studies. • In this cryptic KMT2A/MLLT10 fusion, a part of MLLT10 was inserted into KMT2A. KMT2A (11q23.3) gene rearrangements are found in acute leukemia and are associated with a poor or intermediate prognosis. MLLT10 is the fourth most common gene fusion partner for KMT2A. A reciprocal translocation t(10;11) is insufficient to produce an in-frame KMT2A/MLLT10 fusion, because the genes involved in the rearrangement have opposite transcriptional orientations. In order to bring KMT2A and MLLT10 into juxtaposition, complex rearrangements are required. Until now, conventional chromosome, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies have been used to detect KMT2A/MLLT10 fusions. However, conventional studies have limitations, such as poor and inconsistent resolution, when compared to next-generation sequencing (NGS). In this study, we report a pediatric patient with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, in whom the cryptic KMT2A/MLLT10 fusion was not detected by KMT2A break-apart probe FISH and chromosome analysis, but detected by NGS. In this patient, NGS showed cryptic insertion of MLLT10 exons 9-24 into intron 9 of KMT2A , resulting in a KMT2A/MLLT10 fusion. Therefore, NGS is a valuable complementary option for the evaluation of structural aberrations, especially those with a cryptic size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As of 2017, American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) had the highest prevalence of illicit drug use of any ethnic group in the United States, with 17.6% of the population aged 12 and older reporting using illicit drugs in the last month. Studies have shown the positive correlation between a history of trauma and substance use disorder. In fact, the majority of youth in treatment for substance misuse reported a history of trauma. Intergenerational trauma, systematic discrimination, and displacement are downstream effects of colonization, and experiences of racism often define the life experiences of AI/ANs who use substances. This paper describes the process of designing a developmentally and culturally appropriate primary prevention supplement for an evidence‐based program to prevent substance use and increase cultural identity among AI/AN youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has multiple clinically and pathologically defined subtypes where the underlying causes of such heterogeneity are not well established. Rare TREM2 variants confer significantly increased risk for clinical AD in addition to other neurodegenerative disease clinical phenotypes. Whether TREM2 variants are associated with atypical clinical or pathologically defined subtypes of AD is not known. We studied here the clinical and pathological features associated with TREM2 risk variants in an autopsy-confirmed cohort. TREM2 variant cases were more frequently associated with non-amnestic clinical syndromes. Pathologically, TREM2 variant cases were associated with an atypical distribution of neurofibrillary tangle density with significantly lower hippocampal NFT burden relative to neocortical NFT accumulation. In addition, NFT density but not amyloid burden was associated with an increase of dystrophic microglia. TREM2 variant cases were not associated with an increased prevalence, extent, or severity of co-pathologies. These clinicopathological features suggest that TREM2 variants contribute to clinical and pathologic AD heterogeneity by altering the distribution of neurofibrillary degeneration and tau-dependent microglial dystrophy, resulting in hippocampal-sparing and non-amnestic AD phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ion shift index (ISI) is a suggested marker to reflect the magnitude of ischemic damage. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the ISI for predicting poor neurological outcomes at 6 months in comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors by comparing it with the OHCA and Cardiac Arrest Hospital Prognosis (CAHP) scores. This observational registry-based cohort study included adult comatose OHCA survivors admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Korea between 2015 and 2021. The ISI was calculated using the serum electrolyte levels obtained within one hour of resuscitation. The primary outcome was poor neurological function (Cerebral Performance Category score of 3–5) at 6 months. Of the 250 OHCA survivors, 164 (65.6%) had poor neurological outcomes. These patients had a higher median ISI than those with good neurological outcomes (4.95 vs. 3.26, p < 0.001). ISI (adjusted odds ratio, 2.107; 95% confidence interval, 1.350–3.288, p = 0.001) was associated with poor neurological outcomes. The prognostic performance of ISI (area under the curve [AUC], 0.859) was similar to that of the OHCA score (AUC, 0.858; p = 0.968) and the CAHP score (AUC, 0.894; p = 0.183). ISI would be a prognostic biomarker for comatose OHCA survivors that is available during the immediate post-cardiac arrest period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Carney complex (CNC) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by endocrine and nonendocrine tumors. Loss-of-function variants of protein kinase A regulatory subunit 1 alpha (PRKAR1A) are common causes of CNC. Here, we present the case of a patient with CNC with a novel PRKAR1A missense variant. A 21-year-old woman was diagnosed with CNC secondary to acromegaly and adrenal Cushing syndrome. Genetic analysis revealed a novel missense heterozygous variant of PRKAR1A (c.176A>T). Her relatives, suspected of having CNC, also carried the same variant. RNA analysis revealed that this variant led to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. In vitro functional analysis of the variant confirmed its role in increasing protein kinase A activity and cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels. This study broadens our understanding of the genetic spectrum of CNC. We suggest that PRKAR1A genetic testing and counseling be recommended for patients with CNC and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many statistical methods for pathway analysis have been used to identify pathways associated with the disease along with biological factors such as genes and proteins. However, most pathway analysis methods neglect the complex nonlinear relationship between biological factors and pathways. In this study, we propose a Deep-learning pathway analysis using Hierarchical structured CoMponent models (DeepHisCoM) that utilize deep learning to consider a nonlinear complex contribution of biological factors to pathways by constructing a multilayered model which accounts for hierarchical biological structure. Through simulation studies, DeepHisCoM was shown to have a higher power in the nonlinear pathway effect and comparable power for the linear pathway effect when compared to the conventional pathway methods. Application to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) omics datasets, including metabolomic, transcriptomic and metagenomic datasets, demonstrated that DeepHisCoM successfully identified three well-known pathways that are highly associated with HCC, such as lysine degradation, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis and phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. Application to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset also showed that DeepHisCoM identified four pathways that are highly associated with the severity of COVID-19, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signaling pathway, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy. Codes are available at https://github.com/chanwoo-park-official/DeepHisCoM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid‐repellent technology is an efficient means of energy‐saving and biofouling avoidance. However, liquid‐repellent surfaces suffer from inefficient lubricant retention under shear flow and fouling problem in marine environment. Here, the authors demonstrate a fatty acid amide (FAA)‐based oleogel for stable and sustainable lubrication in marine environment. The lubrication management of marine creatures is emulated in synthetic oleogels by incorporating solid (FAA) and liquid lubricants into the molecular meshes of polymeric networks, with the nature‐derived solid lubricant providing multifunctional synergistic effects with liquid oil molecules for slippery property and remarkable anti‐biofouling. The lubricant‐confining gel achieves shear‐stable lubricity with efficient oil management. The oleogel provides continued lubrication without biofouling for approximately 4 months in marine field tests. The gel design provides a new paradigm for sustainable and shear‐stable lubrication in marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate human hair color perception through two empirical studies in the context of colored hair. The preliminary study was intended to establish a numerical representation of perceptually meaningful brightness levels. It identified that the brightness level was proportional to the power of 0.766 of L*. In the visual assessment, participants (N = 47) categorized 246 hair color samples into eight color hue groups aligned with the Munsell system. Hue judgment was conducted by visually comparing dyed hair tresses with natural black hair. Based on the L*, a*, and b* values of hair tresses and visual assessments thereof, we observed the ranges of hue categories for hair color alongside the brightness levels. Additionally, the differences between the Munsell hue names and the assessment results were compared. Predominantly influenced by the dark brown hair color, the neutral orientation was shifted to the first quadrant of the a*-b* plane. The study contributes to an understanding of human hair color perception and provides insights into color categorization and labeling, especially when the context is confined. • Conceptual hair brightness level quantified as 0.766 squared value of the measured L* in CIELAB color space. • The neutral point for human hair is not gray but brown, shifting distinctly as hair brightness increses. • In the Munsell color system, what seems gray aligns more with green or blue in human hair color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sewage sludge ash (SSA) with activated carbon removes efficiently H 2 S from biogas. • SSA has a buffer capacity promoting a basic pH at the surface of the adsorbent. • Micropores are brought by activated carbon and are nanoreactors for H 2 S adsorption. H 2 S removal is a key step for biogas cleaning because this component can lead to premature corrosion of the equipment and its cleaning has a significant cost. The aim of the present work was to assess the use of sewage sludge derived ash (SSA)-materials for H 2 S removal from a landfill biogas. SSA and mixtures made with SSA, activated carbon (AC) and sand were tested for H 2 S removal. The best removal efficiency was obtained with the mixture 80%m SSA and 20%m AC, while SSA alone was not a good adsorbent under tested experimental conditions. The materials characterization helped the adsorption mechanism understanding. Indeed, results highlighted that SSA presence stabilizes the pH on a basic range, favorable for H 2 S dissociation into HS− then its chemisorption. On the other hand, with the microporosity of AC, the contact surface between H 2 S and oxygen was sufficiently large for chemisorption kinetics. It also appeared that the mixture with sand and AC adorbs non selectively H 2 S but also other volatile organic pollutants present in biogas. Contrariwise, with SSA/AC mixtures, H 2 S seems to be selectively chemisorbed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are neuropathologic subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with tau inclusions (FTLD-tau), primary tauopathies in which intracellular tau aggregation contributes to neurodegeneration. Gosuranemab (BIIB092) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to N-terminal tau. While Gosuranemab passive immunotherapy trials for PSP failed to demonstrate clinical benefit, Gosuranemab reduced N-terminal tau in the cerebrospinal fluid of transgenic mouse models and PSP patients. However, the neuropathologic sequelae of Gosuranemab have not been described. In this present study, we examined the brain tissue of three individuals who received Gosuranemab. Post-mortem human brain tissues were studied using immunohistochemistry to identify astrocytic and microglial differences between immunized cases and a cohort of unimmunized PSP, CBD and aging controls. Gosuranemab immunotherapy was not associated with clearance of neuropathologic FTLD-tau inclusions. However, treatment-associated changes were observed including the presence of perivascular vesicular astrocytes (PVA) with tau accumulation within lysosomes. PVAs were morphologically and immunophenotypically distinct from the tufted astrocytes seen in PSP, granular fuzzy astrocytes (GFA) seen in aging, and astrocytic plaques seen in CBD. Additional glial responses included increased reactive gliosis consisting of bushy astrocytosis and accumulation of rod microglia. Together, these neuropathologic findings suggest that Gosuranemab may be associated with a glial response including accumulation of tau within astrocytic lysosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Berry acculturation model (BAM) includes five measurement components. Current instruments do not examine all five components. This study's aim was to complete cognitive interviews with Asian American college-aged women using two frequently used measures and investigate whether all five BAM's components of acculturation are included. Methodology: This is a qualitative study using in-depth semistructured cognitive interviewing. Data were collected until saturation was reached (n = 20). Content analysis was completed. Results: Two themes emerged: Components of acculturation and survey structure. All components of BAM were evident in the data. The women agreed that physical, biological, cultural, and social relationships are important aspects of acculturation. The psychological component emerged as women discussed intergenerational conflicts related to acculturation. Discussion: Future research includes psychometric testing of a new acculturation instrument that incorporates all five components of BAM. A valid, comprehensive measure is needed to understand how AA women adapt to mainstream culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is considered as a useful option to preserve fertility for cancer patients. This study purposed to evaluate the change of telomere length and senescence markers during human ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Ovarian tissues were obtained from women who underwent benign ovarian surgery in the gynecology research unit of a university hospital with prior consent and IRB approval. DNA was extracted from the ovarian tissues using a DNeasy tissue kit and telomere lengths in the DNA samples were determined by real time PCR before and after cryopreservation. All tissues were stained with hematoxylin–eosin and subjected to immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assays. Other senescence markers, including p53, p16, p21, and phospho-pRb proteins, were evaluated using western blot analysis. Ovarian tissues were collected from ten patients and prepared for slow freezing with the same size of diameter 4 mm and 1 mm thickness. Mean age of patients was 26.7 ± 6.2 years (range, 16–34 years), and ovarian tissues were cryopreserved and thawed 4 weeks after cryopreservation. The mean telomere length was significantly decreased after cryopreservation (9.57 ± 1.47 bp vs. 8.34 ± 1.83 bp, p = 0.001). Western blot analysis revealed that p53, p16, and p21 proteins increased and phospho-pRb protein expression decreased after ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation is regarded as one of promising options for fertility preservation. However, clinicians and researchers should be aware of possible irreversible DNA changes such as shortening of telomere length and alterations of other senescence markers in human ovarian tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is mainly characterised by multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) caused by PTCH1, PTCH2, and SUFU. However, clinical and genetic data on Asian NBCCS patients are limited. We aimed to analyse the clinical phenotypes and genetic spectrum of Korean patients with NBCCS. Fifteen patients with NBCCS at Seoul National University Hospital were included, and their clinical data were analysed. Whole-exome sequencing and/or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification using peripheral blood were performed to identify genetic causes. Genetic analysis revealed that 73.3% (11/15) of the patients carried 9 pathogenic variants, only in the PTCH1 gene. Variants of uncertain significance (VUS) and likely benign were also detected in 2 (13.3%) and 2 (13.3%) patients, respectively. BCCs were found in the majority of the cases (93.3%) and the number of BCCs increased with age (ρ = 0.595, P = 0.019). This study revealed that PTCH1 pathogenic variants were the main cause of NBCCS in Korean patients. As BCCs are commonly detected, a periodic dermatologic examination is recommended. Finally, our results support the addition of genetic screening to the existing criteria for NBCCS diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian oocyte maturation is wholly dependent on the translation of accumulated maternal transcripts. Therefore, measuring the translation of specific genes, especially Ccnb1 and Ccnb2 , which are key regulators of the oocyte cell cycle in mice, is essential to monitor oocyte cell cycle progression. For this purpose, almost all previous research has used a reporter construct containing the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of Ccnb. It is based on the concept that the 3′-UTR is the main modulator of translation. Here, we investigated the expression pattern of Renilla luciferase (RL) reporters combining the 5′-UTR and/or open reading frame (ORF) as well as the 3′-UTR (RL-3′, 5′-RL-3′, RL-ORF-3′, and 5′-RL-ORF-3′) of Ccnb1 and Ccnb2 in somatic cells and mouse oocytes. The addition of the 5′-UTR and/or ORF of Ccnb altered the expression of the RL-3′ reporter in HEK293T cells and mouse oocytes. The ORF tended to suppress RL expression, whereas the 5′-UTR enhanced the expression in most cases. The increased rate in expression was the highest when only the 3′-UTR of Ccnb1 (RL-3′) was used, whereas the 5′-RL-ORF-3′ reporter showed a relatively lower increase during oocyte maturation. For Ccnb2 , the RL-ORF-3′ reporter showed the largest increase, and other reporters exhibited a similar increase in expression during oocyte maturation. Results show that the expression of these genes is modulated not only by the 3′-UTR but also by the 5′-UTR and ORF. Therefore, special caution should be taken when using only the 3′-UTR to monitor the expression of specific genes. • The reporter containing 5′-UTR and/or ORF of Ccnb1 and Ccnb2 , in addition to their 3′-UTR are differently expressed in HEK293T and mouse oocytes. • Reporters show varying translational expression patterns based on cell cycle stage. • Expression of these genes is modulated by the 5′-UTR, and ORF as well as the 3′-UTR. • Ccnb1 and Ccnb2 expression levels in vivo may not be recapitulated by a reporter gene with only 3′-UTR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are becoming widely recognized as one of many global environmental issues. Although recently, it has been suggested that marine plastics may affect a ship's operation, the presence of MPs in a ship's cooling system has not received significant attention. In this study, samples of 40 L each were taken from each of the five main pipes (sea chest (SC), ejector pump (EP), main engine jacket freshwater pump (MJFP), main engine jacket freshwater cooler (MJFC), and expansion tank (ET)) in each season (February, May, July, October 2021) to identify and characterize MPs in the five main pipes of the ship cooling system from the training ship Hanbada, Korea Maritime and Ocean University. As a result of FTIR analysis, the total MP abundance was 24,100 particles/m3 in the cooling system of the ship. MP concentrations were observed to be higher (p < 0.05) in winter and spring (dry season: 1578 ± 604 particles/m3) than in summer and autumn (wet season: 990 ± 390 particles/m3). In addition, the MP concentration in the seawater cooling system (SCS) (1509 ± 553 particle/m3) was slightly higher (p > 0.05) than that in the freshwater cooling system (FCS) (1093 ± 546 particles/m3). Compared to previous studies, it was confirmed that the quantitative amount of MPs on board was similar to or slightly less than the concentration of MPs investigated along the coast of Korea (1736 particles/m3). To identify the chemical composition of MPs, an optical microscope and FTIR analysis was carried out, and PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) were identified as major chemicals in all samples. MPs in the form of fibers and fragments accounted for approximately 95% of the total. This study provided evidence of MP contamination in the main pipe in the cooling system of the ship. These findings confirm that marine MPs existing in seawater may have flowed into the ship's cooling system, and it is necessary to understand the effect of marine MPs on the ship's engine and cooling system through continuous monitoring. • Microplastic abundance and distribution in an engine cooling system of a ship was firstly investigated. • Quantification and polymer identification of microplastics via MicroFTIR • 475–2300 particles/m3 of microplastics were detected for each ship engine cooling system sample. • PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) were identified as major polymer types of microplastics. • Fibers and fragments were the most abundant in all of ship engine cooling samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated facial skin color differences before and after makeup. Toward this goal, a photo gauge, devised with a pair of color checkers as a reference, collected face images. In addition, color calibration and a deep-learning method extracted the color values of representative areas of facial skin. The photo gauge photographed 516 Chinese females before and after applying makeup. Then, the collected images were calibrated by referencing skin color patches, and the lower cheek regions' pixel colors were extracted using open-source computer vision libraries. Following the visible color spectrum of humans, the color values were computed in L*, a*, and b* of CIE1976L*a*b*. The results showed that the facial colors of the Chinese females changed to become brighter, less reddish, and less yellowish after applying the makeup, resulting in a paler skin tone. During the experiment, subjects were given five varieties of liquid foundation to choose one sample that best fits their skin. However, we failed to find any noticeable relationship between the individual's facial skin color characteristics and the liquid foundation selected. In addition, 55 subjects were identified according to their makeup use frequency and skill, but their color changes did not differ from the other subjects. This study provided quantitative evidence of makeup trends in the Shanghai region in China, and the method proposes a novel approach toward remote skin color research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a 72% increase in the Asian American population from approximately 12 million in 2000 to 21 million in 2015. By 2050, there will be 33.4 million Asian Americans living in the United States, making this population the most rapidly growing ethnic group in the country. There is a myth that Asian Americans are a model conservative minority group in terms of sexual behavior and safe sexual practices and are not at risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. However, they are the only ethnic group in the United States that had a continuous increase in HIV infection rates from 4.9 per 100,000 in 2011 to 5.5 per 100,000 in 2016. Due to state and national methods of data collection for race and ethnicity with regard to sexually transmitted infection and HIV, the Asian American population's data are often limited. The purpose of this article is to identify the potential historical and political reasons why the Asian American population's HIV or sexual risk has not been fully documented and to propose potential health policy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Calcium phosphate brushite type of cements have been used to replace bone graft materials because of their biocompatibility and other attractive features. Especially, injectability of cement allows easy handling of minimally invasive surgical techniques. New calcium phosphate cement (CPC) system, brushite based cement incorporated into polyelectrolyte complex, was developed in this study. Chitosan-alginate complex produced by an interaction between a cationic polymer (chitosan) and an anionic polymer (alginate) was loaded in the cement. This improved the functional properties and biocompatibility of the final cement. We optimized the liquid/solid (L/S) ratio of the cement components and investigated the compressive strength, setting time, pH change of CPC0 (with only citric acid) and CPC0.5, 1, and 1.5 (0.5, 1, and 1.5 v/v % chitosan-alginate complex in citric acid solution, respectively). The L/S ratio did not affect structural formation, while the addition of polymer complex showed new formation of macro-pores within CPC. However, a lower L/S ratio and higher amount of added polymer complex shortened the setting time and improved the compressive strength. The appropriate conditions for the injectable bone substitute were CPC1 with an L/S ratio of 0.45. To investigate the effect of the chitosan-alginate complex on CPC system in physiological conditions, CPC0 and CPC1 were implanted in a rabbit femoral head defect model for 1 and 3 months. Micro-computed tomography revealed improved bone formation in CPC1 compared to CPC0 3 months after implantation. Histological analysis revealed newly formed bone tissues around the peripheral sides of CPC0 and CPC1. The results indicate the potential value of the CPC system containing polymer complex as an injectable bone substitute. The study of the CPC-polymer complex system incorporating drugs or cells can be further developed into a controlled release system for faster bone regeneration. Highlights • Chitosan-alginate fiber-like structure complex was incorporated into the brushite based calcium phosphate cement (CPC). • CPC containing polymer complex showed good cohesion and injectability with adequate setting time. • The addition of polymer complex promoted bone formation in a rabbit femoral head defect. • Incorporation of polymer complex into CPC system would be a potential candidate as an efficient injectable bone substitute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bone loss and fractures are becoming a common problem due to the aging of the global population. To aid such cases, less invasive procedures for bone regeneration have been developed using injectable bone substitutes. However, injectable materials for bone are commonly composed of inert materials that only provide structural support and still pose a risk of leakage, which contributes to morbidity. This study attempts to address this problem through evaluation of different types of electrospun fibers and their potential for facilitating the use of calcium phosphate-based cement in vertebral augmentation procedure. Thin (0.83 ± 0.31 μm fiber diameter) and thick (5.25 ± 1.22 μm fiber diameter) electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes were fabricated and surface modified through hydrolysis and simulated body fluid (SBF) apatite deposition. Samples composed of thin fibers generally retain most of their relevant properties following surface modification, while a significant change was observed in samples composed of thick fibers. The results show that thin electrospun fibers possess desirable mechanical properties for injectable cement encapsulation, while thick electrospun fibers provide a better substrate for pre-osteoblast cells. Balloon samples fabricated from both fiber types were used to test inflation capacity, encapsulation of injectable cement, and bone tissue development in an animal model. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Electrospun fibers can be used for encapsulating calcium-phosphate based injectable cement. • Fiber diameter, porosity and shape design influences biocompatibility and encapsulation capacity of the fibrous balloon. • Thin and thick electrospun fibers can be combined to create an effective encapsulation balloon for injectable CPC cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate whether smokers who are ready to quit are more likely to use electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) than those who are not. The association between the ever and current use of e-cigarettes with the stages of change (SOC) model was examined, which reflects the readiness to quit smoking. Current smokers were categorized based on the SOC (precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation). We investigated the associations between quit attempts, intention to quit, and stage of change with e-cigarette use in the general population and different age groups. We used data from the Korea Community Health Survey that was conducted nationwide in 2014, and 45,378 current smokers were included in the study. Adult smokers were more likely to use e-cigarettes simultaneously in the preparation and contemplation stages than in the precontemplation stage (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] of preparation stage: 2.88 and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.26–3.66; AOR of contemplation stage: 1.93 and 95% CI: 1.67–2.24). Ever use of e-cigarette was significantly associated with the contemplation stage in smokers younger than 50 years, while current e-cigarette use was greater in the contemplation stage than in the precontemplation stage at all ages. Both ever and current use of e-cigarettes were significantly related with the preparation stage among all age groups except 50–59 years. Because the use of e-cigarette among smokers may continually increase, public health guidance must be provided to different types of dual users. Previous studies on the association between e-cigarette use and the cognitive and behavioral aspects of smokers have conflicting results. This study highlights whether the use of e-cigarettes can be used as an indicator for the readiness to quit smoking. Thus, counselors can encourage smoking cessation and provide tailored interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:While self-administered mobile app-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown efficiency and effectiveness over the past decade, attempts to address automatic and negative beliefs have been lacking. The purpose of this study was to introduce and verify a mobile app that directly intervenes in dysfunctional thoughts. This app-based treatment includes recognizing automatic and negative thoughts of the protagonist of scenarios, writing advice directly to the main character, and sharing advice provided by other participants. Materials and Methods:Thirty-four participants diagnosed with Other Specified Depressive Disorder were recruited and randomly allocated to a CBT-based mobile-app program, the Todac Todac (TT group), or a daily mood chart app program (control group). Participants were asked to use the software for 3 weeks. Assessments for autonomic thoughts and clinical symptoms were administered at baseline and at a follow-up evaluation. Results:After completing the 3-week program, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) scores in TT group were lower than they were in the control group. In clinical measures, both TT group and control group showed reduced Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores and situation-dependent trait version of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-X2) at follow-up. However, TT group showed significantly reduced STAI-X2 scores compared to control group. For all participants, changes in DAS scores were correlated with BDI-II and STAI-X2 scores. Conclusions:Our preliminary findings provide promising evidence that scenario-based CBT mobile apps can be used to deliver feasible and efficacious cognitive therapy. Long-term research is needed to determine the impact and effectiveness of this new treatment format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although rarely framed as enacted stigma, adults with Tourette syndrome (ATS) have long suffered from discrimination associated with their tic symptoms. Given the high stress levels of enacted stigma that ATS experience, it is expected that their tic symptoms are profoundly impacted. However, the evidence linking enacted stigma to ATS's tic symptoms remains limited. Methods: This study used a secondary data‐analysis approach to reanalyze the data from the follow‐up phase of a multi‐centered, randomized controlled trial in which a behavioral intervention was tested for its efficacy in managing tic symptoms. This study first conducted psychometric testing on a list of 16 enacted stigma events across five life stages and identified the underlying factor structure. The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) was used to assess severity and impairment of current tic symptoms, whereas the Clinical Global Impression of Severity scale (CGI) was used to obtain the gestalt of clinical judgment on tic severity. A series of multivariate linear models were then fitted to test the relationships between different types of lifetime enacted stigma and current tic symptoms. Results: The analytic sample included 73 young ATS (average age of 23.2 [standard deviation = 2.5] years). The factor analysis identified three types of enacted stigmas: "traumatic events," "confrontations," and "subtle mistreatments." In multivariate models, traumatic events significantly associated with YGTSS‐severity, whereas subtle mistreatments provided additional explanations for CGI. Conclusions: Enacted stigma may play important roles in shaping ATS's current tics symptom severity and, therefore, should be carefully considered in future intervention development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of tunable direct bandgap III-V absorbers with active Si substrates promises high-efficiency tandem solar cells. To yield the ideal III-V bandgaps between 1.6 and 1.8 eV which is considered to achieve current matching with the Si bottom-cell, however, either a big lattice-mismatch or dilute nitrides had to be considered so far. Here, we propose a new structure for a two-terminal III-V-on-Si solar cell which bases on strain-balanced III-V multi-quantum wells (MQWs) embedded in a metamorphic GaAsP top-cell matrix. Strain-balanced MQWs extend the absorption edge to a longer wavelength and enable a reduction of the As content in the GaAsP metamorphic top-cell matrix. And accumulation of carriers in MQWs favors radiative recombination, which is beneficial for high efficiency while deep quantum wells lower the charge carrier collection efficiency. Here, we predict solar energy conversion efficiencies over 42.6% with an entire MQW as thin as 500 nm. The applied model takes into account the drawbacks of MQWs, such as limited light absorption and the bottleneck of charge carrier collection from the confinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Kim, B.; Oh, C.; Yi, Y., and Kim, D.-H., 2018. GPU-Accelerated of Boussinesq model using compute unified device architecture FORTRAN. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 1176–1180. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Graphic Processing Units (GPU) have a number of arithmetic units and their associated structures specialized for graphic processes make the computational performances much faster than CPU (Central Processing Units). In these days, many numerical models implemented by FORTRAN have been applied on real field scale problems, which requires huge computational resources and simulation time as well. In this study, a GPU version of Boussinesq equation model was implemented using the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) FORTRAN. The computed results of the GPU-CUDA FORTRAN Boussinesq model were verified by comparing with the computed result of a CPU based Boussinesq model that had been already verified for many benchmark tests. Exact agreements except round off magnitude have been observed from the comparison. The GPU-CUDA FORTRAN Boussinesq model showed about 20 times faster computational time compared with the CPU based code. In addition, as the computational domain becomes larger, the computational efficiency of GPU-CUDA FORTRAN version over the CPU version more increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Kim, D.-H,; Kim, B., and Choi, B., 2018. Adaptability of suspended sediment transportmodel for sandbar migration simulation. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 661–665. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Adaptability of a nonequilibrium suspended sediment transport model to flow and morphological conditions was studied. Under dispersive and unsteady flow conditions, four sets of numerical simulations were conducted using a morphodynamic model. The flow fields were modeled using the Boussinesq equation and the bottom evolutions were modeled using the transport equation for the suspended load and the bed load formulae. Numerical simulations using a constant suspended parameter and variable bed load parameters within a multiple of reference values yielded very similar predictions. These similarities resulted from the adaptability of the suspended sediment transport model which considered the flow and morphological conditions; although the use of different values of bed load parameters resulted in different individual contributions to the bed load fluxes by the parameters, the suspended sediment model adjusted the suspended load flux and made total fluxes converged. The same results were observed in the bottom evolution rates. On the other hand, successful results could not be obtained in the opposite cases: with fixed bed load parameter and variable suspended load parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kim, B.; Oh, C.; Yi, Y., and Kim, D.-H., 2018. GPU-Accelerated of Boussinesq model using compute unified device architecture FORTRAN. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 1176–1180. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Graphic Processing Units (GPU) have a number of arithmetic units and their associated structures specialized for graphic processes make the computational performances much faster than CPU (Central Processing Units). In these days, many numerical models implemented by FORTRAN have been applied on real field scale problems, which requires huge computational resources and simulation time as well. In this study, a GPU version of Boussinesq equation model was implemented using the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) FORTRAN. The computed results of the GPU-CUDA FORTRAN Boussinesq model were verified by comparing with the computed result of a CPU based Boussinesq model that had been already verified for many benchmark tests. Exact agreements except round off magnitude have been observed from the comparison. The GPU-CUDA FORTRAN Boussinesq model showed about 20 times faster computational time compared with the CPU based code. In addition, as the computational domain becomes larger, the computational efficiency of GPU-CUDA FORTRAN version over the CPU version more increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kim, D.-H,; Kim, B., and Choi, B., 2018. Adaptability of suspended sediment transportmodel for sandbar migration simulation. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 661–665. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Adaptability of a nonequilibrium suspended sediment transport model to flow and morphological conditions was studied. Under dispersive and unsteady flow conditions, four sets of numerical simulations were conducted using a morphodynamic model. The flow fields were modeled using the Boussinesq equation and the bottom evolutions were modeled using the transport equation for the suspended load and the bed load formulae. Numerical simulations using a constant suspended parameter and variable bed load parameters within a multiple of reference values yielded very similar predictions. These similarities resulted from the adaptability of the suspended sediment transport model which considered the flow and morphological conditions; although the use of different values of bed load parameters resulted in different individual contributions to the bed load fluxes by the parameters, the suspended sediment model adjusted the suspended load flux and made total fluxes converged. The same results were observed in the bottom evolution rates. On the other hand, successful results could not be obtained in the opposite cases: with fixed bed load parameter and variable suspended load parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study is a meta‐analysis of 19 relevant studies, with 95,434 participants, investigating the relationships between various types of social support and 3 dimensions of student burnout. The overall results indicate that social support is negatively correlated with student burnout. Specifically, school or teacher supports have the strongest negative relationship to student burnout. Social supports from parents and from peers also have a significant negative relationship with student burnout. Among the 3 dimensions of student burnout, inefficacy was more strongly related to social support than emotional exhaustion or cynicism. The results of a moderation analysis suggest that the type of schools (secondary school and postsecondary school) affected the relationships between the overall social support and student burnout. We discuss the implications to ameliorate student burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable treatment and management of fecal sludge in rural areas require adapted solutions. Rustic and simple operating processes such as sludge treatment reed beds (STRB) have been increasingly considered for this purpose. The biggest full scale (2,600 m² of STRB) septage treatment unit in France had been built in Nègrepelisse with the final objectives of reusing treated sludge and leachates for agriculture spreading and tree irrigation, respectively. The aim of this investigation was to validate the treatment chain of this installation. The obtained field data showed firstly that the overall removal efficiencies of STRB were satisfactory and stable. Removal rates higher than 98% for chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids and a 95% for Kjeldahl nitrogen represented so far a beneficial septage treatment by STRB. The highlighted necessity of a suitable complementary leachate treatment (before tree irrigation) justified the presence of the second stage of vertical flow constructed wetland. The sludge deposit drying and mineralization efficiencies were on the right track. According to hydrotextural diagram analysis, surface deposit was however found to have high deformability probably due to the youth of the installation. An in-depth understanding of STRB system needs continuous long-term studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns such as global warming, depletion of fossil fuels, and the dangers associated with the nuclear energy have led to the research and development of offshore wind and wave energy sources. However, the transportation and installation (T&I) planning for offshore energy platform is still being conducted in an unmanaged manner. In this paper, the T&I process of floating hybrid generator platforms is investigated. The schedule and cost estimation are simulated as a discrete event process, an alternative T&I process is evaluated, and the optimum T&I plan (with respect to the shortest duration or the lowest cost) is identified using various techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ideal bone substitute should be made of biocompatible materials that mimic the structure, characteristics, and functions of natural bone. Many researchers have worked on the fabrication of different bone scaffold systems including ceramic-polymer hybrid system. In the present study, we incorporated hyaluronic acid-gelatin hydrogel to micro-channeled biphasic calcium phosphate granules as a carrier to improve cell attachment and proliferation through highly interconnected porous structure. This hybrid system is composed of ceramic biphasic calcium phosphate granules measuring 1 mm in diameter with seven holes and hyaluronic acid-gelatin hydrogel. This combination of biphasic calcium phosphate and hyaluronic acid-gelatin retained suitable characteristics for bone regeneration. The resulting scaffold had a porosity of 56% with a suitable pore sizes. The mechanical strength of biphasic calcium phosphate granule increased after loading hyaluronic acid-gelatin from 4.26 ± 0.43 to 6.57 ± 0.25 MPa, which is highly recommended for cancellous bone substitution. Swelling and degradation rates decreased in the hybrid scaffold compared to hydrogel due to the presence of granules in hybrid scaffold. In vitro cytocompatibility studies were observed by preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) cell line and the result revealed that biphasic calcium phosphate/hyaluronic acid-gelatin significantly increased cell growth and proliferation compared to biphasic calcium phosphate granules. Analysis of micro-computed tomography data and stained tissue sections from the implanted samples showed that the hybrid scaffold had good osseointegration and better bone formation in the scaffold one and two months postimplantation. Histological section confirmed the formation of dense collagenous tissue and new bone in biphasic calcium phosphate/hyaluronic acid-gelatin scaffolds at two months. Our study demonstrated that such hybrid biphasic calcium phosphate/hyaluronic acid-gelatin scaffold is a promising system for bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi ghost was constructed as a vaccine candidate against typhoid fever. An asd + plasmid pJHL187 harboring a ghost cassette comprised of PhiX 174 E lysis gene stringently controlled under the convergent promotor components and was transformed into the asd gene-deleted mutant S. Typhi Ty21a strain (STG). Twenty female BALB/c mice randomly assigned into two groups were subcutaneously vaccinated at 5 weeks of age to assess immunogenic characteristics of the constructed STG. The level of serum IgG in the immunized mice was significantly increased during the observational period ( P < 0.001) as the mice showed the significant elevation of secretory IgA at week 6 compared to those in the non-immunized mice ( P < 0.05). The CD3 + CD4 + T cell subpopulation in the primed splenocytes showed approximately twofold increase in the immunized group. Further, the gene expression of various immunomodulatory cytokines associated with Th-1, Th-2 and Th-17 immunity was observed in in vitro restimulated splenocytes isolated from the immunized mice. Serum Bactericidal activity of antibodies produced in the rabbits immunized with STG was proved by the elimination of almost all of wild-type S . Typhi in the presence of exogenous complement over an hour at week 6 after the first immunization. The immuno-stimulatory traits of STG demonstrated that the construct effectively enhanced the immunological responses, providing a potential of STG as the vaccine candidate against typhoid fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional weather routing is defined as determining the optimum route for a merchant ship such that distance or duration of the voyage and fuel consumption are minimized. If the purpose of a voyage is offshore transfer, the term “optimum” includes aspects of operational safety such as towing tension and six-degree motion response of tow. This paper presents the development of a weather routing method for determining the optimal route, which is defined here as the route with minimum average towing tension with a restricted time of arrival and significant motion response. A genetic algorithm is applied to solve optimization problems. Optimized routes of this research have an advantage in towing tension and satisfy motion constraints. The result of this study can contribute to safe and effective planning for offshore transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistence analysis was conducted to determine the suitable timing for offshore operations, including transportation. Conventional persistence analysis determines the weather windows for special points: the start point, midpoint, and endpoint of the route. Such results are useful for operations with fixed points, such as loading and unloading at the start or endpoint. However, this approach has two limitations: a limited number of waypoints represent the total route, and the tow behavior under such weather conditions is not considered. This paper presents the development of a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the optimal timing for transporting an offshore structure. In this case, “optimal” means a low voyage duration for economical transportation and operational safety, such as the average towing tension between the tug and tow. A simulation was performed to determine the right time when the average towing tension and estimated time of arrival are low. The results of this study can contribute to safe and effective planning for offshore transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to assess the influence of extreme pH and redox potential (Eh) conditions on phosphorus (P) retention within the surface sludge deposit layer of a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) where phosphorus was captured by FeCl 3 injection. Series of 27 successive batch leaching tests were conducted under acidic, alkaline or reductive conditions using a representative sludge sample taken from an 8-year old VFCW plant. Experiments were followed by monitoring the pH and Eh variations and analysing the releases of P and other selected elements into the solutions. The sludge material was also analyzed before and after leaching, using solution 31 P NMR spectroscopy and sequential chemical extractions, in order to evaluate dissolutions of both organic and inorganic P-bearing species and their respective contributions to P release. The correlations between the monitored variables were analyzed and visualized through principal components analyses (PCA). Results showed a very good stability of P retention in the sludge deposit and a relatively good acid-buffering capacity of the sludge, revealing that the risk of accidental P release into the environment would be extremely low during the real plant operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to develop and initially evaluate the psychometric properties of the Planned Happenstance Career Inventory (PHCI), which aims to assess skill in using chance events to develop career opportunities. After item generation and exploratory factor analysis, 130 original items were reduced to 25 items across 5 factors (5 items for each corresponding factor). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the validity of this 5-factor structure, and the goodness of fit showed an adequate fit to the observed data for both women and men. Results showed that PHCI subscales correlated moderately and in expected directions with career preparation, career decision-making self-efficacy, and career stress. These findings suggest that the PHCI, which assesses 5 dimensions of career-related planned happenstance skill, shows promise as a useful tool for facilitating understanding of the influence of chance events on career choice behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how college students' levels of planned happenstance skills influenced the relationships among career engagement, career decision self-efficacy, and career decision certainty. Moderated mediation analysis was used with a sample of 217 Korean undergraduate students. The results indicated that career decision self-efficacy mediated the relationship between career engagement and career decision certainty. Moreover, the positive indirect effect of career engagement on career decision through career decision self-efficacy was strengthened as the level of planned happenstance skills increased. In conclusion, college students' career engagement strengthens their career decision certainty via career decision self-efficacy when they have enough planned happenstance skills to discover unexpected career opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ca2+ oscillations are a hallmark of mammalian fertilization and play a central role in the activation of development. The calcium required for these oscillations is primarily derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which accumulates in clusters at the microvillar subcortex during oocyte maturation. The migration of the ER to the cortex during maturation is thought to play an important role in rendering the ER competent to generate the calcium transients, and the redistribution of ER is believed to be primarily mediated by microtubules and microfilaments. We have previously shown that the oocyte- and early embryo-restricted maternal effect gene Mater (Nlrp5) localizes to, and is required for, formation of the oocyte cytoplasmic lattices, a tubulin-containing structure that appears to play an important role in organelle positioning and distribution during oocyte maturation. Given these observations, we hypothesized that Mater may also be required for ER redistribution and Ca2+ homeostasis in oocytes. To test this hypothesis, we first investigated ER localization in metaphase-II Mater tm/tm (hypomorph) oocytes and found ER clusters to be less abundant at the microvillar cortex when compared to wild type oocytes. To examine the potential mechanisms by which MATER mediates ER redistribution, we tested whether tubulin expression levels and localization were affected in the mutant oocytes and found that the Triton-insoluble fraction of tubulin was significantly decreased in Mater tm/tm oocytes. To identify potential functional defects associated with these ER abnormalities, we next set out to investigate if the pattern of Ca2+ oscillations was altered in Mater tm/tm oocytes after fertilization in vitro. Intriguingly, Ca2+ oscillations in Mater tm/tm oocytes exhibited a significantly lower first peak amplitude and a higher frequency when compared to wild type oocytes. We then found that the Ca2+ oscillation defect in Mater tm/tm oocytes was likely caused by a reduced amount of Ca2+ in the ER stores. Taken together, these observations support the hypothesis that MATER is required for ER distribution and Ca2+ homeostasis in oocytes, likely due to defects in lattice-mediated ER positioning and/or redistribution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examined the mediation effect of career decision self-efficacy in relation to work values and career decision status. The authors surveyed 308 college students about their own intrinsic (e.g., helping others) and extrinsic (e.g., high income) work values and those of significant others, career decision self-efficacy, and career decision status. The results indicated that the intrinsic and extrinsic work values of significant others were related to the intrinsic and extrinsic work values of the self and that intrinsic work values were more adaptive than extrinsic work values in career development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the only option for preserving fertility in adult and prepubertal cancer patients who require immediate chemotherapy or do not want ovarian stimulation. However, whether ovarian tissue cryopreservation can ameliorate follicular damage and inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species in cryopreserved ovarian tissue remains unclear. Oxidative stress is caused by several factors, such as UV exposure, obesity, age, oxygen, and cryopreservation, which affect many of the physiological processes involved in reproduction, from maturation to fertilization, embryonic development, and pregnancy. Here, freezing and thawing solutions were pre-treated with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and klotho protein upon the freezing of ovarian tissue. While both NAC and klotho protein suppressed DNA fragmentation by scavenging reactive oxygen species, NAC induced apoptosis and tissue damage in mouse ovarian tissue. Klotho protein inhibited NAC-induced apoptosis and restored cellular tissue damage, suggesting that klotho protein may be an effective antioxidant for the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are difficult to recycle because of the layered structure of non-metal (i.e., epoxy resin, glass fiber) and copper. In this work, we conducted a systematic investigation to effectively recover copper from PCB. A thermal treatment was employed for improving the crushing performance of PCB and conducted by varying the temperature and the gas. Then, the mechanical strength, degree of liberation (DL), and copper separation efficiency of the heat-treated and untreated PCBs were investigated. After heat treatment under a 300 °C air atmosphere, the mechanical strength of PCB decreased from 386.36 to 24.26 MPa, and copper liberation improved from 9.3% to 100% in the size range of a coarser size fraction (>1400 μm). Accordingly, when electrostatic separations were performed under these conditions, a high-Cu-grade concentrate and high recovery could be obtained. The results show that the change in the physical properties of the PCBs leads to an improvement in the DL following thermal decomposition at 300 °C in air. Our study elucidates the physical properties of PCBs and the DL under various heat treatment conditions. Furthermore, it shows that the heat treatment condition of 300 °C in air is ideal for recovering copper from the PCB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]