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One particular challenge in constructing geotextile tubes is ensuring proper alignment and leveling, especially when connecting them in a series. This study introduces a novel connection configuration to address this challenge by inserting an auxiliary tube between two main tubes. The proposed connection method offers the advantage of consolidating individual geotextile tubes into a unified structure while maintaining a consistent horizontal level. The proposed connection technique was successfully applied both at test site and on dry construction platform for bridge construction. This study is beneficial for practicing engineers as it presents a new and effective method for connecting geotextile tubes, offering valuable insights into its practical application. • A novel, robust, and easily implementable method for connecting geotextile tubes is proposed. • The proposed connection ensures the cohesive formation of individual geotextile tubes into a unified structure and maintains the vertical profile levels. • Successful application demonstrated in a test site. • Application extended to a temporary platform for bridge construction in a real-world case study. • Its availability to the engineering community makes it adoptable, serving as a foundation for future improvements in geotextile connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a numerical method for the optimal tailoring of volume fraction distributions of reinforcement materials (pillars) within FGM (functionally graded material) sandwich beams with FG-CNTRC (functionally graded CNT-reinforced composite) facesheets. Since the mechanical behaviors of sandwich beams vary depending on the distribution pattern of reinforcement materials (CNT and ceramic in this paper) through the thickness, the tailoring of these distribution patterns is important to enhance the mechanical performance. In the present study, the thickness-wise distributions of CNT in the facesheets and ceramic in the core are optimized to maximize the fundamental natural frequency of sandwich beams, based on the exterior penalty-function method and the golden section method. The developed optimization method is verified and the resulting optimum distributions of CNT and ceramic are compared with the primitive functionally graded distribution patterns which are widely adopted in the literature. Moreover, the volume fraction distributions of CNT and ceramic are also individually optimized, and the optimum results between simultaneous (SO) and individual optimizations (IO) are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally derived essential oils and their active components are known to possess various properties, ranging from anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer activities. Numerous types of essential oils and active components have been discovered, and their permissive roles have been addressed in various fields. In this comprehensive review, we focused on the roles of essential oils and active components in skin diseases and cancers as discovered over the past three decades. In particular, we opted to highlight the effectiveness of essential oils and their active components in developing strategies against various skin diseases and skin cancers and to describe the effects of the identified essential-oil-derived major components from physiological and pathological perspectives. Overall, this review provides a basis for the development of novel therapies for skin diseases and cancers, especially melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential privacy has emerged as a practical technique for privacy-preserving deep learning. However, recent studies on privacy attacks have demonstrated vulnerabilities in the existing differential privacy implementations for deep models. While encryption-based methods offer robust security, their computational overheads are often prohibitive. To address these challenges, we propose a novel differential privacy-based image generation method. Our approach employs two distinct noise types: one makes the image unrecognizable to humans, preserving privacy during transmission, while the other maintains features essential for machine learning analysis. This allows the deep learning service to provide accurate results, without compromising data privacy. We demonstrate the feasibility of our method on the CIFAR100 dataset, which offers a realistic complexity for evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pore pressure model was developed in the past to predict liquefaction induced by an earthquake. Its main advantage is that its parameters can be obtained from experiments based on direct measurement of pore pressure data. However, two downsides of the pioneering model are that its parameters are distinct for each relative density, and that liquefaction curves derived from the model have not been evaluated fully based on well-known triggering liquefaction curves. This research advances the pore pressure model by introducing a method of adjusting the incremental pore pressure rise using calibration factors. Based on the behavior of clean sand, calibration factors, which take into account the effect of the critical stress ratio, earthquake magnitude, and initial stress level, were derived. The calibrated pore pressure model was compared with data from direct simple shear tests to verify the derived calibration factors, and good agreement between the measured and predicted data was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bicarbonate transporters are responsible for the appropriate flux of bicarbonate across the plasma membrane to perform various fundamental cellular functions. The functions of bicarbonate transporters, including pH regulation, cell migration, and inflammation, are highlighted in various cellular systems, encompassing their participation in both physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we focused on recently identified modulatory signaling components that regulate the expression and activity of bicarbonate transporters. Moreover, we addressed recent advances in our understanding of cooperative systems of bicarbonate transporters and channelopathies. This current review aims to provide a new, in-depth understanding of numerous human diseases associated with the dysfunction of bicarbonate transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonic anhydrase 12 is considered an oncogenic and acidic microenvironmental factor in cancer cells. To verify the role of histamine signalling as an anti-cancer signal, we determined the roles of CA12 and its associated bicarbonate transporters. In this study, histamine stimulation mediated mislocalization of CA12 in lung cancer cells. Histamine receptor activation-mediated CA12 endocytosis and pH were restored by CaMKII inhibition. CA12-associated AE2 expression was enhanced, whereas NBCn1 expression and its activity were reduced by histamine stimulation. Histamine receptor activation-mediated acidification was induced by internalised CA12 and NBCn1 and, at the same time by increased bicarbonate efflux through enhanced AE2 expression. Inhibition of protein trafficking by bafilomycin restored CA12 and AE2 localisation and diminished cellular acidosis. Thus, we verified that histamine stimulation induced an acidic scenario, which revealed trafficking of CA12 and its associated bicarbonate transporters in lung cancer cells and its dysregulated pH modulation may be involved in the histamine signalling-mediated anti-cancer process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing charged terminal groups to polymers that graft nanoparticles enable Coulombic control over their assembly by tuning the pH and salinity of their aqueous suspensions. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are grafted with poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) terminated with ▪ (charge-neutral), ▪ (negatively charged) or ▪ groups (positively charged), and characterized with dynamic light scattering, ζ -potential, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Liquid surface X-ray reflectivity (XR) and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) are used to determine the density profile and in-plane structure of the AuNPs assembly at the aqueous surface. Assembly of PEG-AuNPs at the liquid/vapor interface is tunable by adjusting pH or salinity for COOH but less for ▪ terminals. The distinct assembly behaviors are attributed to the overall charge of PEG-AuNPs as well as PEG conformation. COOH-PEG corona is more compact than those of the other terminal groups, leading to a crystalline structure with a smaller superlattice. The net charge per particle depends not only on the PEG terminal groups but also on the cation sequestration of PEG and the intrinsic negative charge of the AuNP surface. [1] The closeness to overall charge neutrality, and hydrogen bonding in play, brought by ▪-PEG, drive ▪-PEG-AuNPs to assembly and crystallinity without additives to the suspensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast concrete (PC) structures have many advantages, but their use in the construction of middle- to high-rise buildings is limited. The construction of PC structures requires skills in various operations such as transportation, assembly, lifting, and structural soundness. In particular, regarding the seismic design of PC structures, it is necessary to clearly evaluate whether they have the same structural performance and usability as integral RC (cast-in-place) structures. In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to investigate whether PC members can achieve a seismic performance equivalent to that of RC members in beam–column joints, which are representative moment-resisting frames. The main variables are the two types of structural systems (intermediate and special moment-resisting frames) and the design flexural strength ratio of the columns and beams. The experimental and analytical results showed that the seismic performance of the PC specimens was equivalent to that of the RC specimens in terms of strength, stiffness, energy dissipation, and strain distribution, except for the specimen with splice sleeve bond failure of the column reinforcement (poor filling of the internal mortar). In addition, the I series satisfied the present emulation evaluation criteria for special moment-resisting frames of PC structures, confirming the possibility of applying intermediate moment-resisting frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As individuals age, they may experience a decline in gait automaticity, which requires increased attentional resources for the control of gait. This age-related decline in gait automaticity has been shown to contribute to higher prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation and lower dual-task performance during dual-task walking in older adults. This study is to investigate the effect of treadmill walking on PFC activation and dual-task performance in older adults. A total of 20 older adults (mean age, 64.35 ± 2.74 years) and 20 younger adults (mean age, 30.00 ± 3.15 years) performed single- and dual-task walking in overground and treadmill conditions. A wearable functional near-infrared spectroscopy and gait analyzer were used to analyze PFC activation and dual-task performance, respectively. To determine the dual-task (gait and cognitive) performance, the dual-task cost (DTC) was calculated using the following formula: (single-task − dual-task)/single-task × 100. In both groups, dual-task treadmill walking led to reduced PFC activation and reduced DTC compared to dual-task overground walking. Furthermore, despite a higher DTC in gait variability, correct response, total response, response index and a higher error score in older adults than in younger adults during overground walking, there was no difference in treadmill walking. The difference in PFC activation between single- and dual-tasks was also observed only in overground walking. Performing dual-task walking on a treadmill compared to overground walking results in different levels of dual-task performance and PFC activity. Specifically, older adults are able to maintain similar levels of dual-task performance as younger adults while walking on a treadmill, with reduced PFC activation due to the automaticity induced by the treadmill. Therefore, older adults who exhibit low dual-task performance during overground walking may be able to improve their performance while walking on a treadmill with fewer attentional resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study is aimed at providing baseline data for improving the social participation of persons with visual impairment by verifying the impacts of daily life satisfaction and job satisfaction on their social participation. Methods. This study utilized data from the 5th survey of the 2nd wave of the Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled (PSED) provided by the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD). Of the 511 persons with visual impairment who participated in the panel survey, 151 people who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the research subjects. This study compared social participation, job satisfaction, and daily life satisfaction, which were validated by experts' review, consulting, and research at the KEAD. Results. Daily life satisfaction and job satisfaction of persons with visual impairment had positive correlations with social participation. Job satisfaction had a statistically significant impact on social participation. Additionally, the stability of employment and monthly income were the variables affecting social participation. Conclusion. The result drawn in this study can be applied as basic data related to the social participation of people with visual impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) have shown that dual-task walking leads to greater prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation compared to the single-task walking task. However, evidence on age-related changes in PFC activity patterns is inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the changes in the activation patterns of PFC subregions in different activation phases (early and late phases) during both single-task and dual-task walking in both older and younger adults. Methods: Overall, 20 older and 15 younger adults performed a walking task with and without a cognitive task. The activity of the PFC subregions in different phases (early and late phases) and task performance (gait and cognitive task) were evaluated using fNIRS and a gait analyzer. Results: The gait (slower speed and lower cadence) and cognitive performance (lower total response, correct response and accuracy rate, and higher error rate) of older adults was poorer during the dual task than that of younger adults. Right dorsolateral PFC activity in the early period in older adults was higher than that in younger adults, which declined precipitously during the late period. Conversely, the activity level of the right orbitofrontal cortex in the dual-task for older adults was lower than for younger adults. Conclusions: These altered PFC subregion-specific activation patterns in older adults would indicate a decline in dual-task performance with aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) is an emerging vapor-phase synthetic route for the preparation of organic–inorganic composites. Previously, we investigated the potential of polyaniline (PANI)-InOx composite thin films prepared using SIS for application in electrochemical energy storage. In this study, we investigated the effects of the number of InOx SIS cycles on the chemical and electrochemical properties of PANI-InOx thin films via combined characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The area-specific capacitance values of PANI-InOx samples prepared with 10, 20, 50, and 100 SIS cycles were 1.1, 0.8, 1.4, and 0.96 mF/cm², respectively. Our result shows that the formation of an enlarged PANI-InOx mixed region directly exposed to the electrolyte is key to enhancing the pseudocapacitive properties of the composite films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylose‐rich undefined broth, extracted from the dilute acid pretreatment wastes of barley straw, serves as resourceful media for Acremonium chrysogenum M35 culture and production of cephalosporin C (CPC). Concentrating the extract with proper reprocessing enables to prepare various concentrations of xylose broth (2%–8%). The undefined xylose media were prepared for CPC production from A. chrysogenum M35 by the addition of other nutrients. Cell growth and CPC production were the most effective at 6% xylose and additional 2% glycerol, with maximum CPC production of 9.07 g/L after 6 days, which is higher production than that in defined media prepared with laboratory‐level nutrients and reagents. Investigation of autotrophic and reverse trans‐sulfuration pathways for cysteine synthesis, a limited element of three precursors for CPC synthesis, supports the enhanced CPC production in undefined media. Abundance of xylose ensures a maintained NADPH concentration required for sulfate reduction and synthesis of amino sulfide such as cysteine. Cystathionine‐γ‐lyase activity profiling indicated more efficient biosynthesis in undefined media than in other cultures use glycerol and glucose, and the biosynthesis pathway of CPC production by the cephalosporin gene cluster (i.e. pcbC and cefG genes) was investigated. The process using undefined xylose media was designed, and process simulation program confirmed our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) made of organic guest molecule and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) in aqueous solution have great potential for diverse applications. Herein, we designed highly fluorescent zero‐dimensional (0D) nano‐ring SOF with CB[8] as a host and novel bent‐shaped cyanostilbene guest. This host–guest complex successfully formed macrocyclic hexamer and showed significantly enhanced fluorescence (ΦF=68 %) compared to non‐assembled monomer (ΦF=2 %). Unlike other SOFs, this 0D SOF could be dispersed uniformly without bundling phenomenon in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operative treatment of high-grade talar neck fractures remains challenging, despite numerous previous reports. Our goal was to determine long-term outcomes and to establish a plan for management of postoperative complications (especially, avascular necrosis [AVN] of talar body) after high-grade talar neck fractures. We hypothesized that not every case with AVN of talar body require secondary surgical interventions. We retrospectively reviewed the radiographic and clinical findings of 14 patients who underwent operative treatment for high-grade talar neck fractures (modified Hawkins type III and IV) between January 2000 and December 2017. The minimum follow-up duration for inclusion was 3 years. Using radiographs during follow-up, we assessed the development of AVN of the talar body, malunion, nonunion, and posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Information about the secondary operations and their outcomes were also investigated using visual analogue scale (VAS) and American orthopaedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale at the final follow-up. In 10 of 14 patients (71.4 %), talar body AVN developed during follow-up. However, secondary operation was required in only 30.0 % (3 of 10 patients). In the remaining 7 patients who did not undergo secondary operation, the symptoms were tolerable with a maximum of 89 months follow-up; although the talar body presented sclerotic changes, but without talar dome collapse. The rates of malunion and post-traumatic subtalar osteoarthritis were 21.4 % and 14.3 %, respectively. No patients presented with fracture site nonunion. After a mean of 55.86 ± 14.45 months (range, 37–89) follow-up, the final mean VAS and AOFAS scores were 3.07 ± 0.73 (range, 2–4) and 80.43 ± 3.11 (range, 75–85), respectively. We recommend leaving talar body AVN untouched, unless the patient's symptoms become intolerable. In our clinical practice, postoperative AVN could be stably maintained without talar dome collapse for more than 7 years, although the sclerotic change persisted. Despite the small number of patients, our clinical experience may benefit patients with high-grade talar neck fractures and surgeons who treat such rare, serious, and challenging foot injuries. Level IV, Case series [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seo, S.-C.; Kim, H.-J.; Hwang, T., and Lee, W.-D., 2023. Storm wave characteristics during Typhoons Maysak and Haishen on the east and south coasts of Korea. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(1), 129–142. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Typhoons Maysak and Haishen, the ninth and tenth typhoons of 2020, ravaged the Korean Peninsula within an interval of only 4 to 5 days. In the vicinity of the peninsula, these two typhoons exhibited unusual northward movement paths as they made landfall on the south coast of Korea and exited off the east coast. The storm waves caused by these typhoons damaged a number of structures along the east and south coasts, particularly by overtopping and flooding. In this study, storm waves were estimated by applying the wind fields caused by Typhoons Maysak and Haishen in the third-generation wave model Simulation WAves Nearshore (SWAN), and results were verified through a comparison with wave observation data. The storm wave characteristics were analyzed mainly based on the east and south coasts, which were damaged by high waves that accompanied the typhoons. In addition, the deep-water design wave specifications around the Korean Peninsula revised in 2019 were compared with the storm waves that occurred during Typhoons Maysak and Haishen as calculated by the SWAN model. Consequently, during the onslaughts of Typhoons Maysak and Haishen, storm waves corresponding to more than 90% of the deep-water design wave heights for the 50 year return period were estimated at grid points on the East Sea and Ulleungdo Island of Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we assessed the physical and chemical properties of HfO2 thin films deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). We confirmed the self-limiting nature of the surface reactions involved in the HfO2 thin film's growth by tracing the changes in the growth rate and refractive index with respect to the different dose times of the Hf precursor and O2 plasma. The PEALD conditions were optimized with consideration of the lowest surface roughness of the films, which was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was utilized to characterize the chemical compositions, and the local chemical environments of the HfO2 thin films were characterized based on their surface roughness and chemical compositions. The surface roughness and chemical bonding states were significantly influenced by the flow rate and plasma power of the O2 plasma. We also examined the uniformity of the films on an 8″ Si wafer and analyzed the step coverage on a trench structure of 1:13 aspect ratio. In addition, the crystallinity and crystalline phases of the thin films prepared under different annealing conditions and underlying layers were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to compare and investigate the free vibration characteristics of detailed and homogenized models for functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beams, based on the finite element method (FEM). In this study, three types of FG-CNTRC beams and boundary conditions are considered for different volume fractions of CNT: UD (uniformly distributed), FG-X, and FG-Λ beams. These beams in which single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are distributed with a gradient through the thickness are employed and analyzed for simply supported (SS), clamped-clamped (CC), and free-free (FF) boundary conditions. For the homogenized model, the effective material properties are determined in terms of the CNT volume fraction using the linear rule of mixture. A commercial midas NFX program is used for finite element simulations to analyze the free vibration responses of FG-CNTRC beams. The numerical results are compared with the existing analytical solutions in the literature in order to validate the developed finite element models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to understand the effects of self‐efficacy, self‐esteem, and the degree of disability acceptance of people with physical disabilities living in COVID‐19 pandemic on their social participation. Methods: Among the 4577 registered disabled people who participated in the 2nd wave of the Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled (PSED), 1682 people with physical disabilities who faithfully answered all the survey items were selected as the final study subjects. This study used the variables of social participation, self‐efficacy, self‐esteem, and disability acceptance, which were validated by experts' review and consulting and research at the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disability. Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to identify variables that could predict the social participation of the study subjects. Results: The self‐efficacy, self‐esteem, and the degree of disability acceptance of people with physical disabilities were positively correlated with social participation. The results of this study showed that self‐efficacy, self‐esteem, the degree of disability acceptance, economic activity, and education level explained 22.4% of social participation. Conclusions: It was found that self‐efficacy, self‐esteem, and the degree of disability acceptance of people with physical disabilities were important variables affecting social participation. These psychoemotional variables shall be considered for intervention approaches to improve the social participation of people with physical disabilities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory T (Treg) cells maintain immune homeostasis by preventing abnormal or excessive immune responses. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) regulates expression of Foxp3, and thus, Treg cell differentiation; however, its role in Treg cell differentiation is unclear and somewhat controversial. Here, we investigated the role of HDAC6 in TGF-β-induced murine Treg cells. HDAC6 expression was higher in Treg cells than in other T helper cell subsets. Pharmacological inhibitors of HDAC6 selectively inhibited Treg cell differentiation and suppressive function. A specific HDAC6 inhibitor induced changes in global gene expression by Treg cells. Of these changes, genes related to cell division were prominently affected. In summary, HDAC6 plays an important role in TGF-β-induced murine Treg cell differentiation by regulating cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To investigate the efficacy of autologous serum gel in patients with lagophthalmos combined with neurotrophic persistent corneal epithelial defects (PEDs). Methods: This is retrospective, case-series study enrolled 15 patients with lagophthalmos complicated by neurotrophic PEDs refractory to medical treatment including autologous serum eye drops. They were treated with autologous serum gel in conjunction with conservative treatment. The following information was collected from medical records: demographics, underlying diseases, and past ocular history. PEDs healing time was evaluated with visual acuity, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, esthesiometer scores, and the areas of the epithelial defects. Results: Six men and nine women with a mean age of 63.3 ± 9.9 years were included. The most common cause of the neurotrophic PEDs and lagophthalmos in this group was postherpetic infection (46.7%) and cerebral hemorrhage (26.7%) each. Two months following treatment with autologous serum gel, there was a reduction in the area of the epithelial defects (from 19.2 ± 9.9 to 0.6 ± 1.5 mm2) and a significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (from 0.8 ± 0.5 to 0.5 ± 0.4 logMAR) and VAS scores (from 5.1 ± 1.1 to 2.1 ± 0.6) in 13 eyes (87%). Among the 11 completely healed eyes, the mean epithelial healing time was 3.2 ± 1.8 weeks. Conclusions: Autologous serum gel reduces symptoms and promotes corneal epithelialization of refractory neurotrophic PEDs in patients with lagophthalmos. Therefore, it may be well tolerated and a beneficial addition in the management of neurotrophic PEDs in patients with lagophthalmos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jaeumgeonbi-Tang (JGT), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat dizziness and vertigo in Korea and China for hundreds of years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacological properties of JGT in chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) patients. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group and placebo-controlled trial was performed with a total of 50 CSD patients. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: JGT or placebo (n = 25 for each). All participants received the treatment (placebo or JGT, 24 g/day) for 4 weeks. We analyzed the serum levels of oxidative stressors, antioxidants, and stress hormones. Serum levels of lipid peroxidation, but not nitric oxide, were significantly decreased in the JGT group. JGT not only prevented the decline of serum total glutathione contents and total antioxidant capacity, but it also increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Serum levels of stress hormones including cortisol, adrenaline, and serotonin were notably normalized by JGT treatment, but noradrenaline levels were not affected. Regarding the safety and tolerability of JGT, we found no allergic, adverse, or side effects in any of the participants. JGT showed beneficial effects on CSD patients by improving redox status and balancing psycho-emotional stress hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A time-history analysis, based on the finite element method, was performed to identify the behavior of a slope containing fault gouge during earthquakes. Input seismic waves were obtained from earthquake data measured in Korea, with five earthquakes (M3.0, M3.9, M5.1, M5.4, and M5.8) to analyse the magnitude effects. The acceleration effects indicate approximately 50%–110% residual shear strain depending on the acceleration fluctuation within the coda wave section after the maximum acceleration was reached. This indicates that the permanent deformation due to the earthquake will remain because the ground is an elastic-plastic material. The magnitude effects also indicate that both the maximum shear stress and strain increase simultaneously as the magnitude increases and as the maximum acceleration tends to increase with increasing magnitude. However, both the cumulative and maximum accelerations should be considered when assessing slope stability since both the maximum shear stress and strain are affected by these two accelerations. Analysis of the presence or absence of fault gouge indicates that the shear strain could be concentrated on fault gouge, which is easily deformed or destroyed by shear strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault rocks that occur in the Yugye segment of the Yangsan fault zone, South Korea, are classified based on information from geological field and drilling surveys, including total core recovery, rock quality designation, particle size distribution analysis, characterization of fault rocks intersected in boreholes, and hydraulic conductivity values established from Lugeon tests. The classification assigns fault rocks to three categories, i.e., fault damage zone, fault breccia, or fault gouge, with average hydraulic conductivities of 1.22 × 10−6, 2.07 × 10−4, and 2.57 × 10−5 cm/s, respectively. The hydraulic conductivity of the sedimentary host rock is 2.76 × 10−6 cm/s, similar to that of the fault damage zones, which suggests that the multiple fractures in the fault damage zones are closed in situ. The hydraulic conductivity of the fault core (fault breccia and fault gouge) is greater than that of the fault damage zones and host rocks by one or two orders of magnitude. In addition, the permeability of the fault breccia is greater than that of the fault gouge, which contains more clay. The hydraulic conductivity of both the fault breccia and fault gouge show a positive correlation (R2 ≥ 97%) with increasing fragment content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garnet amphibolites with relics of mafic granulite occur within the Precambrian Odaesan Complex and the Paleozoic Taebaeksan Basin on the Korean Peninsula. Atoll garnets and symplectites after garnet are locally developed in the mafic rocks. In order to constrain the metamorphic–metasomatic garnet decomposition, we undertook mineral equilibria modeling using pressure (P)–temperature (T)–fluid composition [ X CO 2 ; CO2/(CO2 + H2O)]–bulk–rock composition (XBC) pseudosections that were calculated in the Na2O–CaO–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–TiO2–H2O ± MnO ± Fe2O3 ± CO2 system. The integrated thermodynamic pseudosection modeling successfully reproduced the variations in metamorphic mineral assemblages and the reaction textures produced by metasomatism during the exhumation of the mafic rocks. The peak P–T– X CO 2 conditions of the mafic granulite and amphibolite were 9.5–11.0 kbar/670–720 °C at X CO 2 = 0.4–0.5 and 7.0–9.0 kbar/580–630 °C at X CO 2 = 0.4, respectively. Subsequently, during retrogressive metamorphism at 3.5–6.0 kbar and 470–530 °C in the presence of H2O-dominated fluids, the symplectites and atoll garnets were formed by preferential dissolution and/or resorption. Furthermore, fluid-assisted local variations in rock composition (involving Al3+, Fe2+, and Ca2+) also affected the formation of the metasomatic reaction textures around the garnet porphyroblasts. The peak metamorphism with change of X CO 2 occurred during the early Triassic (c. 250 Ma), as inferred from U–Pb zircon age data. Taking into account previous metamorphic and provenance studies on the tectonic environment of the eastern margin of the Korean Peninsula, the sub-isothermal decompressional P–T– X CO 2 –XBC path of the amphibolites and mafic granulites resulted from the amalgamation of microcontinents and the Sino–Korean Craton at a trench–arc setting during the Permian–Triassic orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitterlings are freshwater fish that have developed morphological adaptations to improve the survival of their embryos in host mussels. The most well‐known adaptation is the development of minute tubercles, which develop in the early embryonic stage when the embryos have poor swimming ability, and disappear when the embryos reach the free‐swimming stage and leave the host mussels. In this study, the embryonic developmental stages of Acheilognathus signifer were analysed to elucidate the relationship between the changes in the height of the minute tubercles and their movement. The height changes in the minute tubercles in the embryos can be divided into five stages, i.e., formation, growth, peak, reduction and disappearance. The authors found that the embryos lived in the gill demibranch of the host mussel until day 6 after hatching. The movement of embryos to the suprabranchial cavity in the gill demibranch was firstly observed on day 7. At this point, the embryos showed a heartbeat and movement. From day 13, the minute tubercles had almost disappeared, and the hatchlings started swimming outside the host mussels from day 16. These observations highlight the different adaptations of minute tubercles among bitterling groups without wing‐like projections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global desire to improve the performance of road pavements and move towards a sustainable transportation system has immensely encouraged the usage of fibers in asphalt paving materials. In this study, glass fibers trademarked as ESGFIBER produced by the ESG Industry company Limited from Daejeon, Korea were added in dense-graded asphalt mix. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects that fibers have on volumetric properties, mechanical properties, and long-term performance of asphalt concrete mixes. ESGFIBER were mixed together with aggregates and asphalt binder in asphalt mix and five different asphalt mixes with different dosage of fibers were evaluated in this study. The Marshall mix design method was used for designing all asphalt mixes, and laboratory tests indirect tensile strength test, deformation strength test and Hamburg wheel tracking test were conducted to evaluate moisture susceptibility, fatigue cracking behavior and rutting resistance of asphalt concrete mixes. The results showed that when ESGFIBER were added in asphalt mix moisture susceptibility, fatigue cracking and rutting resistance were both improved. The usage of ESGFIBER in asphalt concrete mixes can be very beneficial since the mechanical and long-term performance were improved upon the addition of fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lamins are nuclear envelope proteins involved in various cellular functions, such as DNA modulation, cellular differentiation, and development. In this study, we investigate the role of histamine in lung cancer biology. Since it is known that lamin-A/C is negatively regulated in lung cancer, we hypothesize that histamine signaling is related to nuclear lamin-A/C regulation and cancer progression. Our findings reveal that histamine stimulation enhances lamin-A/C expression in lung cancer cells. Lamin-A/C expression is dependent on histamine-mediated intracellular calcium signaling and subsequent calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (Ca/CaMKII) activation. The nuclear protein nestin, which stabilizes lamin-A/C expression, is also modulated by Ca/CaMKII. However, histamine-mediated lamin-A/C expression is independent of Akt/focal adhesion kinase or autophagy signaling. Histamine stimulation attenuates lung cancer motility in the presence of enhanced lamin-A/C expression. In conclusion, we propose a regulatory mechanism that accounts for the modulation of lamin-A/C levels through the involvement of Ca/CaMKII in cancer cells and provides molecular evidence of histamine signaling in lamin-A/C biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) could be adopted as one of the biotechnological new approaches for removing groundwater contaminants of petroleum hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene, and simultaneously producing electricity. In this study, we have compared performances of single‐chamber MFCs in terms of power density and removal efficiency when operated under two different feeding conditions. In one experiment, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and phenol (BTEP) were individually fed to the MFC reactor without acetate. In another experiment, acetate was added as a co‐substrate. When operated in a batch mode, both cases showed almost complete BTEP removal efficiency while the former case produced negligible power density of ca. 1 mW/m2 and the latter case 0.13–0.44 W/m2. These results imply that MFCs are promising technology for removing petroleum contaminants and for simultaneously producing electricity when suitable organic substances are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: After the 12-month interim safety analysis, we investigated the 24-month primary endpoint outcomes of drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (dPED) after laser and intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. Methods: Twenty-one patients with treatment-naïve bilateral intermediate AMD with dPED and visual acuity ≤ 83 letters (Snellen 20/23) were enrolled. The subject eye received low-energy PASCAL® laser (532 nm) treatment, and the fellow eye was used as the control. Intravitreal injections were administered at 3-month intervals from baseline to 12 months. Treatment outcomes, safety and development of advanced AMD lesions were analyzed. Results: The mean drusen area and dPED height were significantly reduced (17.3 ± 2.7% vs. 112.8 ± 3.1%, P < 0.001 and 11.8 ± 4.7% vs. 119.1 ± 4.6%, P < 0.001, respectively) and the mean BCVA improved (5.11 ± 1.35 vs. 0.83 ± 1.03 letters, P = 0.014) in the study eyes compared to those in the control eyes. Development of parafoveal iRORA (nGA) (67%, 12 of 18 eyes) and cRORA (GA) (22%, 4 of 18 eyes) was observed in the study eyes, whereas three cases of iRORA and cRORA in the control eyes (17%, 3 of 18 eyes; P = 0.010 and P = 0.791, respectively). Conclusions: Laser and anti-VEGF treatment may be a potential treatment option for intermediate AMD with dPED. However, considering the relatively high rate of secondary iRORA and cRORA development, long-term follow-up is mandatory to clarify the safety and efficacy of this treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the carbonation depth is of paramount importance in assessing the durability of cementitious materials as the carbonation process alters their near-surface physicochemical properties. This paper introduces a novel quantitative ultrasound (QUS) technique capable of nondestructively identifying the carbonation depth, regardless of the tortuosity of the carbonation front. A 2.5 MHz phased array transducer was employed to construct beamformed radio frequency images and measure two microstructure-dependent parameters – spectral slope (SS) and spectral intercept (SI) – based on backscatter and attenuation coefficients. The change in obtained SS and SI were then visualized as QUS images, which displayed the geometry of the carbonation front, correlating with images constructed using a phenolphthalein solution (1.6 mm difference in depth). Mineral compositions and porosities were analyzed to account for microstructural changes in each layer. This study opens an opportunity for nondestructive detection of carbonation depth, overcoming the limitations in conventional methods or regression-based approaches. • Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) technique is developed for detecting carbonation depth. • QUS images achieved based on scattering and attenuation phenomena confirm densification in carbonated layer. • Upon the QUS images, the measured carbonation depth shows great agreement with results from phenolphthalein solution. • Mineral compositions and porosities were evidenced by TG, MIP, XRD, and QXRD analyses. • The proposed method offers potential for visualizing ambiguous geometry of inclusions in cementitious materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repair of underwater concrete structures is usually difficult work, requiring specialized materials and installation systems. This paper presents a carbon-textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) grouting system for underwater repair of concrete structures. One multi-purpose grout and two types of underwater grouts were considered in this study, and the bond performance between the substrate and grout was evaluated by a bi-surface shear test with cubic specimens. The bond strength of the repair material is greatly affected by the casting and curing conditions. When the multi-purpose grout is used, the average bond strength of the specimens cast and cured in dry conditions is only 22% of the specimens cast and cured in underwater conditions. On the other hand, the maximum difference in bond strength is, at most, 15.8% when non-dispersive, anti-washout grouts are used. Two types of installation methods were proposed and four full-scale RC slab specimens were repaired with the TRC grouting method, two for each installation method. Regardless of the installation method, the load levels that causes concrete cracking, steel yield, and the failure of specimens repaired with the TRC grouting system are at least 37.5%, 16.6%, and 21.7% greater than those of the unrepaired specimen, respectively. The test results further indicate that the influence of the grouting materials on the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the specimens repaired with the TRC grouting system is insignificant, and the maximum difference is, at most, 4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synergistic strategies by combining nanoreactors and prodrugs hold tremendous potential in anticancer treatment. However, precise death of target cancer cells remains a significant challenge due to the absence of an elaborate cancer targeting strategy. Here, a dual‐targeting approach that combines the action of H2O2‐producing folate receptor‐targeted nanoreactors with a cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) targeted prodrug is reported. A folate‐modified silica nanoreactor encapsulating glucose oxidase (GOX) is prepared to generate H2O2, which induces oxidative stress and allows the activation of the prodrug by targeted intracellular delivery. A novel prodrug bearing both COX‐2 targeting Celecoxib and SN‐38 anticancer agent with an H2O2‐cleavable thioketal linker to activate the drug is presented. By dual‐targeting, the generated H2O2 from GOX triggers the cleavage of a thioketal linker in the prodrug to produce the active form of the SN‐38 anticancer drug in cancer cells inducing synergistic cell death. This dual‐targeting strategy with a synergistic potency can aid in developing selective and effective anticancer therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, tosylate-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT:Tos) films are prepared by thermally assisted oxidative polymerization either on a hot plate or in a convection oven. The main difference between these heat treatments is the way heat is transferred (conduction or convection) during polymerization. The surface morphology and structure, doped state, chemical composition, and the changes in the physical and chemical properties of the differently heat-treated films are analyzed using various instrumental methods. The hot plate-treated films exhibit a smooth and dense surface morphology with a low root-mean-square roughness of ~ 5 nm. The films have a quinoid-prevalent thiophene structure with a high electrical conductivity of 575 S/cm. By contrast, the oven-treated films show a rough and porous morphology with a surface roughness ranging from 30 to 80 nm depending on the scanning area, which yields high absorption capacity of more than 90% in the near-infrared range. The oven-treated films show a benzenoid-prevalent structure that provides relatively low electrical conductivity of 244 ± 45 S/cm. As a demonstration of these noticeable changes, PEDOT:Tos films are examined as a photothermal conversion layer to convert light energy to thermal energy, which is converted to electrical energy using a thermoelectric device by covering the films on the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of cloud computing, interest in database outsourcing has recently increased. In cloud computing, it is necessary to protect the sensitive information of data owners and authorized users. For this, data mining techniques over encrypted data have been studied to protect the original database, user queries and data access patterns. The typical data mining technique is kNN classification which is widely used for data analysis and artificial intelligence. However, existing works do not provide a sufficient level of efficiency for a large amount of encrypted data. To solve this problem, in this paper, we propose a privacy-preserving parallel kNN classification algorithm. To reduce the computation cost for encryption, we propose an improved secure protocol by using an encrypted random value pool. To reduce the query processing time, we not only design a parallel algorithm, but also adopt a garbled circuit. In addition, the security analysis of the proposed algorithm is performed to prove its data protection, query protection, and access pattern protection. Through our performance evaluation, the proposed algorithm shows about 2∼25 times better performance compared with existing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage can contribute to the resource-adequacy needs of power systems. However, the energy-limited nature of energy storage complicates estimating its resource-adequacy contribution. Energy storage that discharges to mitigate a loss-of-load event may have less energy available to mitigate a subsequent loss-of-load event. We present a stochastic-dynamic-optimization approach to capture such impacts endogenously. We demonstrate our approach using an example and two case studies, which show that energy storage's capacity value is sensitive to the load patterns of the system in which it is deployed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since studies on privacy-preserving database outsourcing have been spotlighted in a cloud computing, databases need to be encrypted before being outsourced to the cloud. Therefore, a couple of privacy-preserving kNN query processing algorithms have been proposed over the encrypted database. However, the existing algorithms are either insecure or inefficient. Therefore, in this paper we propose a privacy-preserving kNN query processing algorithm via secure two-party computation on the encrypted database. Our algorithm preserves both data privacy and query privacy while hiding data access patterns. For this, we propose efficient and secure protocols based on Yao's garbled circuit. To achieve a high degree of efficiency in query processing, we also propose a parallel kNN query processing algorithm using encrypted random value pool. Through our performance analysis, we verify that our proposed algorithms outperform the existing ones in terms of a query processing cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) installation method for strengthening structurally deficient or damaged reinforced concrete (RC) structures with grouting. In this study, cementitious grout was used as a matrix for the TRC system. TRC coupon specimens with different lap-splice lengths were tested under tension to determine the minimum textile lap-splice length. The minimum lap-splice length of the sand-coated textile was evaluated as 150 mm. The performance of the TRC-strengthened RC slabs with the proposed installation method. The lap-spliced textile was experimentally validated by a flexural failure test. Five RC slabs were strengthened by one ply of sand-coated carbon textile grid with and without the lap-splicing and 20 mm-thick cementitious grout and were tested in flexure. Among the TRC-strengthened RC slab specimens, two specimens were re-strengthened RC slabs with the TRC system. The TRC strengthened slab, for which the lap-splice length of the textile was 50% smaller than the minimum lap-splice length, failed at the load level of steel yield. On the other hand, the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the RC slabs strengthened by the TRC system with textile lap-splicing decreased by at least 6% relative to that without textile lap-splicing. Furthermore, the results of a flexural test for the TRC re-strengthened slabs indicate that the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the TRC re-strengthened slabs is almost the same as that of an undamaged slab strengthened with the TRC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a composite guidance law comprising a three-stage proportional navigation (PN) structure for the simultaneous arrival of multiple missiles. Motivated by the fact that the selection of the navigation constant considerably influences the trajectory shape, the proposed composite law is designed to have different navigation constants at each stage to achieve the desired impact time. The three stages of the proposed law are configured to sequentially increase, maintain, and decrease the magnitude of the look angle by switching only the navigation constant, through which the seeker’s field-of-view constraint, which is mainly determined by the look angle, can be satisfied without additional considerations. Furthermore, the simple PN-based structure of the proposed law makes it possible to obtain an exact closed-loop solution, providing various useful information for practical implementation, such as the expected trajectory, required guidance command, and range of achievable impact time. In addition, the relevant investigations based on the theoretical analysis as well as the demonstration results obtained through the numerical simulation are presented herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Taean Formation on the central western margin of the Korean Peninsula contains layered metapelite, quartzo‐feldspathic schist, amphibolite, calcsilicate, and impure marble. The layering was formed by tectonic transposition of the original bedding. The formation has lithologic and isotopic age signatures similar to those of metasedimentary rocks of the Imjingang Belt, which is the eastern extension of the Qinling–Dabie–Sulu Belt, and the depositional age of the formation can be constrained to the Late Devonian. The metamorphic pressure–temperature (P–T) path for the formation is characterized by a high ΔP/ΔT prograde part and subsequent near‐isothermal decompression with peak P–T conditions of 600–620°C and 9.0–10.5 kbar, based on observations of mineral assemblages and phase equilibria modelling. Strong compressional deformation (Dn) produced a N–S‐trending Sn foliation that transposed the earlier Sn–1 and isoclinal Fn folds and was coeval with an episode of medium‐ to high‐pressure amphibolite‐facies metamorphism. The NNE–SSW‐trending left‐lateral Ryeseonggang Fault played a key role in producing the N–S distribution of the metamorphosed forearc deposits along the western coast of the Korean Peninsula. The peak metamorphism and deformation occurred during the early Permian to Early Triassic (276–250 Ma), with retrogression taking place during the Late Triassic (c. 230 Ma), as inferred from new U–Pb zircon age data and previous titanite and muscovite ages for the formation. The clockwise P–T–t (time)–d (deformation) path for the Taean Formation indicates rapid burial during Dn followed by rapid exhumation during the Permian–Triassic collision between the Qinling microcontinent and the North China Craton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latitude of lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) location (ϕLMI) of Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) is related to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) with a significant negative correlation for 1948–2018. We objectively classify TC tracks into four patterns, to evaluate the effects of variations in dominant track patterns (track ϕLMI) and intra‐pattern ϕLMI (pure ϕLMI) on the total ϕLMI variation. During the warm phases of AMO, the prevailed south‐origin track patterns and equatorward pure ϕLMI shifts have almost equally contributed to the equatorward migration of the total ϕLMI. The negative anomaly of potential intensity in the subtropics is responsible for the equatorward shift of pure ϕLMI. Moreover, weak vertical wind shear in the tropics increases the south‐origin track patterns. These environmental conditions are associated with the east‐strong and west‐weak relative sea surface temperature warming during the warm phases that causes anomalous upward and downward motions in the eastern and western Atlantic, respectively. Plain Language Summary: The location where tropical cyclone (TC) attains their lifetime maximum intensity is an important factor to determine the magnitude of its societal impact. Considering the land‐sea distribution in the Atlantic, poleward migration of the location means that the TC can grow longer until it closer to the land. Besides, the location of lifetime maximum intensity is generally better observed than any other development stage. For these reasons, many previous studies investigated its long‐term variation. According to some studies, in the North Atlantic, the location has shifted toward the equator for a recent decade, which appeared to be a part of the multidecadal variability known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Here, we also found that the location significantly varies by multidecadal time scales, which is well attributable to the AMO. In addition, we revealed that the migration of the location is equally controlled by the track pattern and the in‐track‐pattern location change, all of which are well explained by the large‐scale circulation related with the AMO. Our finding can be helpful to foresee near‐future variation of the location of tropical cyclones lifetime maximum intensity. Key Points: The negative correlation between the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and latitudinal variation of Atlantic tropical cyclone lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) is reaffirmedEffects of variations in dominant track patterns and intra‐pattern LMI location are almost equally importantBoth variations of track patterns and intra‐pattern LMI location are attributable to the AMO‐related environments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) and Au-TiO 2 core-shell NPs (C-S NPs) were synthesized for xylene gas detection. Morphological, phase, and chemical studies demonstrated the successful generation of Au-TiO 2 C-S NPs with a cauliflower-like morphology and desired composition. Also, the surface area of TiO 2 NPs was 8.46, which increased to 23.88 m2/g for Au-TiO 2 C-S NPs, due to the creation of a porous TiO 2 shell around the Au core. The response of the TiO 2 NPs to 50 ppm xylene was 14.19 at 500°C, while it increased to 165.77 at a lower temperature (450°C). Furthermore, while the TiO 2 NPs gas sensor has no selectivity to xylene gas, the TiO 2 C-S NP gas sensor exhibited excellent selectivity. Overall, incorporation of Au in TiO 2 in the form of a C-S structure improved the performance of the sensor to sense xylene. Improved xylene sensing for the TiO 2 C-S NPs stemmed from the high surface area and porous nature, oxygen defects, and formation of Au-TiO 2 Schottky barriers. This research demonstrates the development of high-output xylene sensors by means of Au-TiO 2 with a C-S structure. • Synthesis of cauliflower-like Au-TiO 2 core-shell (C-S) NPs for Xylene sensing studies. • Au-TiO 2 C-S NPs showed higher surface area (23.88 m2/g) relative to TiO 2 NPs (8.46 m2/g). • TiO 2 NPs showed a low response of 14.19–50 ppm Xylene at 500°C. • Au-TiO 2 C-S NPs showed a response of 165.77–50 ppm Xylene at 450°C. • Enhanced sensing response was related to porous nature, high surface area and formation of Au-TiO 2 Schottky barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Validation of the Hubaux-Vos methodology through a comparative analysis between theoretically derived LODs and those experimentally determined. • A methodology which can be easily handled for the validation of a theoretical approach for estimating LODs of GC. • Successful verification of the theoretical approach using GC equipped with a discharge ionization detector (DID) and a dynamic dilution system. The limit of detection (LOD) is a crucial measure in analytical methods, representing the smallest amount of a substance that can be distinguished from background noise. In the realm of gas chromatography (GC), however, determining LOD can be quite subjective, leading to significant variability among researchers. In this study, we validate the Hubaux-Vos method, an International Standards Organization(ISO)-approved approach for determining LOD in gas concentration measurements, using a GC equipped with a discharge ionization detector (DID) and a dynamic dilution system. We employ a gas mixture certified reference material (CRM) of CO, CH 4 , and CO 2 at various concentrations to generate calibration curves for each gas. Subsequently, we estimate the LODs for each gas using the Hubaux-Vos method. Surprisingly, our findings indicate a notable difference between the LODs calculated using the Hubaux-Vos method and those confirmed through experiments. This highlights the importance of critically examining the theoretical foundations of LOD determination. We strongly recommend researchers to scrutinize the principles guiding LOD determination. The method proposed in this study offers an effective way to rigorously validate theoretical approaches for estimating LODs in gas concentration measurements using GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconstruction of concrete microstructure with computed tomography (CT) images is a challenging problem because concrete is associated with poly-mineral aggregates, various aggregate sizes, high volume fraction of aggregates, rough aggregate surface, small and large connected aggregates, and others. To tackle some of the issues in concrete microstructure reconstruction, CT images are obtained using the complementarity of X-ray and neutron while a recursive aggregate segmentation by erosion and reconstitution (RASER) process is proposed to separate connected aggregates for both 3D and 2D. The RASER algorithm is based on the recursive and iterative processes of erosion and reconstitution of aggregate surface while increasing the eroding layer thickness until a constant number of aggregates is reached. Based on the RASER technique, the 3D segmented concrete microstructure illustrates that aggregates are not skewed based on their sizes and locations while neither under- nor over-segmented in this study. Furthermore, we found that most 2D microstructure analysis can lead to over-segmentation because of artificial section segmentation and rough aggregate surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fortifying nutrients effectively improves the nutritional quality of food. • Lipophilic bioactives face limitations in food applications due to their instability. • Factors influencing stability and retention of lipophilic bioactives are summarized. • Nanocarriers protect susceptible bioactives in harsh conditions like food processing. • Designing a proper delivery system ensures bioactives endure environmental stresses. Lipophilic compounds, such as flavors, fat-soluble vitamins, and hydrophobic nutrients possess vital properties including antioxidant effects, functional attributes, and nutritional value that can improve human health. However, their susceptibility to environmental factors including heat, pH changes, and ionic strength encountered during food processing poses significant challenges. To address these issues, diverse bioactive delivery systems have been developed. This review explores delivery systems designed to optimize the stability and suitability of lipophilic bioactive compounds in food processing. Extensive literature analysis reveals that tailoring delivery systems with various biopolymers can protect bioactives through steric hindrance and formation of thick interfacial layers on the emulsion surfaces. Thus, the access of oxygen, prooxidants, and free radicals at the emulsion interface could be inhibited, resulting in enhanced processing suitability of bioactives as well as chemical stability under diverse environmental conditions. The insights presented in this review hold immense value for the food and beverage industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Au core-Pd shell configuration was formed on optical fibers with nanosphere lithography and chemical coating. • Plasmonic nanoprobe show a detection limit of 0.125 % and signal-to-noise ratio of 24.2 dB in hydrogen sensing. • Good response time and hysteresis are observed with Au@Pd nanodisks. • Bimetallic nanodisk-based fiber-optic sensor can early and remotely detect hydrogen leakages. In this study, gold-palladium bimetallic nanodisks were patterned on optical fibers via nanosphere lithography and chemical growth. The conditions related to the density of the structures, concentration of the growth solution, and growth time were modified. The structural features of nanodisks with a large surface area and enhancement of plasmonic efficiency owing to the palladium shell resulted in a high refractive index sensitivity. Additionally, based on palladium's sensitivity to hydrogen, hydrogen sensing was performed at various concentrations with a detection limit of 0.125 % and signal-to-noise ratio of 24.2 dB. The response time and hysteresis showed a good performance relative to those of other hydrogen sensors. The high throughput of the nanosphere lithography and simple seed-mediated growth make this system a cost-effective fiber-optic plasmonic nanoprobe. Based on these investigations, the optical fiber-based plasmonic nanoprobe can be actively applied to detect dangerous environments using remote sensing for safety management in the clean energy era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown cause involving multiple organs. Its clinical presentation and prognosis vary among races. We identified the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Korean patients with sarcoidosis. Clinical data of 367 Korean patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis diagnosed in 2001–2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment responses included improvement, stability, or progression based on changes in pulmonary sarcoidosis on chest images. The mean age was 47.4 years, and 67.3% of patients were women. The median follow-up period was 80 months. The highest prevalence was observed in individuals aged 50–59 years (30–39 years in men, 50–59 years in women), and the number of diagnoses showed an increasing trend. Lung involvement was the most common (93.5%), followed by the skin, eyes, and extrathoracic lymph nodes. Among patients with lung involvement and a follow-up period of ≥ 3 months, 66.8%, 31.0%, and 2.2% showed improvement, stability, and progression, respectively. Eleven patients (2.9%) died, and the 5-year survival rate was 99%. The number of diagnosed cases showed an increasing trend, and the mean age at diagnosis was increased compared with that in previous reports. Organ involvement was similar to that of Westerners, although the prognosis appeared better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible conducting polymers are an integral part of emerging flexible and functional electronics such as rollables, photovoltaics, and wearables. Patterning the polymers into various surface morphologies is essential to fabricating such devices. Introduced here is an approach of realizing the pattern by polymerizing a precursor solution into the shape of the desired pattern on substrate. Selective temperature activation of the monomer precursor containing an inhibitor leads to the formation of the polymer only on the area of the desired pattern, thereby accomplishing the pattern formation. Even multilevel and graduated patterns, not readily realizable with the conventional lithography, can be formed autonomously. Flexible electrode arrays, a foldable supercapacitor, and an electrochromic device are fabricated to demonstrate the utility of the patterning approach and to showcase development of prototype devices quickly and inexpensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]