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The predicted global labor shortages and health problems for long-term care workers can be addressed by care robots. We have developed a smart transfer-assistive robot with dual arms to assist in patient transfers. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of a transfer-assistive robot with dual arms for long-term care workers in the Living Lab of Kyung Hee University. Long-term care workers (N = 15) transferred healthy adults using the transfer-assistive robot and subsequently reported the workload differences of manual care and the transfer-assistive robot, as measured by the Borg rating of the perceived exertion scale (RPE) and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). They also completed questionnaires on the usability of transfer-assistive robots and open-ended interviews. The RPE and NASA-TLX values for each task were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and descriptive statistics were used to calculate demographics and usability. The RPE scale indicated that the perceived physical burden was significantly reduced when using the transfer-assistive robot compared with the manual method. The robot-aided transfer method significantly reduced the physical demand in the NASA-TLX subscales. In the usability test, the averages for safety, operability, and satisfaction were all three points or higher, indicating a positive result. This study demonstrates that a transfer-assistive robot has the potential to reduce physical stress and the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in long-term care workers. This study shows that the robot is effective for long-term care workers suffering from the burden of the transferring/lifting action, emphasizing the need to introduce a transfer-assistive robot into the care field in South Korea. Transfer-assistive robots are expected to alleviate the burden of transferring and lifting actions for long-term care workers. These results emphasize the need to introduce transfer-assistive robots in the care field. Ongoing attention to the usability study of transfer-assistive robots may be valuable in improving the work environment of long-term care workers and the quality of care services provided to care receivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of the sheath around the probe tips on the transmission spectrum of a cutoff probe using an electromagnetic simulation and a circuit model. Our results show that the width of the sheath can change the transmission spectrum, which can affect the absolute value of the electron density. In a real-world cutoff probe structure, this effect may become apparent in a low-density plasma or when a high bias voltage is applied to the plasma. The key factor is capacitance, which contains the sheath component. In the case of a low-density plasma, the change in the sheath capacitance of the sheath region contributes to the shift in the resonant frequency. For thick sheath widths, at least a 5% discrepancy can occur between the actual plasma frequency and the measurement owing to variations in the capacitance, particularly the sheath components surrounding the probe. We expect that this study will facilitate reduction in the measurement error and uncertainty in microwave cutoff probe measurements, particularly when applied to low-density plasma measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractArtificial intelligence-powered coding assistants (AI-CAs) have become essential tools in programming; however, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms driving programmers’ adoption of these tools in their daily coding tasks. This study aims to examine the role of utilitarian and hedonic values in the adoption of AI-CAs by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The data gathered from an online survey of 283 Korean programmers is analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that both perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness positively influence the attitudes and usage intentions toward AI-CAs. Interestingly, perceived enjoyment has a stronger influence on the intention to use than perceived usefulness, suggesting that recognizing the intrinsic motivation for using AI-CAs is crucial for fully leveraging their benefits. The model also confirms that the compatibility and relative advantages of AI-CAs enhance their adoption. This research enriches the current knowledge base by incorporating hedonic values into the TAM, offering new insights on the design of AI-CAs aimed at enhancing their adoption among developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we suggest a mathematical model of COVID-19 with multiple variants of the virus under optimal control. Mathematical modeling has been used to gain deeper insights into the transmission of COVID-19, and various prevention and control strategies have been implemented to mitigate its spread. Our model is a SEIR-based model for multi-strains of COVID-19 with 7 compartments. We also consider the circulatory structure to account for the termination of immunity for COVID-19. The model is established in terms of the positivity and boundedness of the solution and the existence of equilibrium points, and the local stability of the solution. As a result of fitting data of COVID-19 in Ghana to the model, the basic reproduction number of the original virus and Delta variant was estimated to be 1.9396, and the basic reproduction number of the Omicron variant was estimated to be 3.4905, which is 1.8 times larger than that. We observe that even small differences in the incubation and recovery periods of two strains with the same initial transmission rate resulted in large differences in the number of infected individuals. In the case of COVID-19, infections caused by the Omicron variant occur 1.5 to 10 times more than those caused by the original virus. In terms of the optimal control strategy, we formulate three control strategies focusing on social distancing, vaccination, and testing-treatment. We have developed an optimal control model for the three strategies outlined above for the multi-strain model using the Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. Through numerical simulations, we analyze three optimal control strategies for each strain and also consider combinations of the two control strategies. As a result of the simulation, all control strategies are effective in reducing disease spread, in particular, vaccination strategies are more effective than the other two control strategies. In addition the combination of the two strategies also reduces the number of infected individuals by 1/10 compared to implementing one strategy, even when mild levels are implemented. Finally, we show that if the testing-treatment strategy is not properly implemented, the number of asymptomatic and unidentified infections may surge. These results could help guide the level of government intervention and prevention strategy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internet, particularly social media, has become a popular resource for learning about health and investigating one's own health conditions. The development of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots has been fueled by the increasing availability of digital health data and advances in natural language processing techniques. While these chatbots are more accessible than before, they sometimes fail to provide accurate information. We used representative chatbots currently available (Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer-3.5, Bing Chat, and Google Bard) to answer questions commonly asked by brain tumor patients. The simulated situations with questions were made and selected by the brain tumor committee. These questions are commonly asked by brain tumor patients. The goal of the study was introduced to each chatbot, the situation was explained, and questions were asked. All responses were collected without modification. The answers were shown to the committee members, and they were asked to judge the responses while blinded to the type of chatbot. There was no significant difference in accuracy and communication ability among the 3 groups (P = 0.253, 0.090, respectively). For empathy, Bing Chat and Google Bard were superior to Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (P = 0.004, 0.002, respectively). The purpose of this study was not to assess or verify the relative superiority of each chatbot. Instead, the aim was to identify the shortcomings and changes needed if AI chatbots are to be used for patient medical purposes. AI-based chatbots are a convenient way for patients and the general public to access medical information. Under such circumstances, medical professionals must ensure that the information provided to chatbot users is accurate and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using structural equation modeling, this study identifies the direct and indirect relationships among campus diversity climate, faculty attitudes, student–faculty interaction, and cognitive skills development, examining how the relationships differ by students' race/ethnicity. With data from the University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES) and a sample of 28,688 junior and senior students across 10 campuses, findings showed that Students of Color found faculty to be less accessible, the diversity climate less respectful, and faculty's treatment of students less equitable than their White peers perceived them to be. These disparities hindered more frequent interactions between Students of Color and faculty, ultimately resulting in less gains in cognitive development for this population. Findings from the study suggest that faculty play a key role in cognitive skills development for Students of Color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides three major contributions to the literature: we provide granular information on the development of student argumentative writing across secondary school; we replicate the MacArthur et al. model of Natural Language Processing (NLP) writing features that predict quality with a younger group of students; and we are able to examine the differences for students across language status. In our study, we sought to find the average levels of text length, cohesion, connectives, syntactic complexity, and word-level complexity in this sample across Grades 7-12 by sex, by English learner status, and for essays scoring above and below the median holistic score. Mean levels of variables by grade suggest a developmental progression with respect to text length, with the text length increasing with grade level, but the other variables in the model were fairly stable. Sex did not seem to affect the model in meaningful ways beyond the increased fluency of women writers. We saw text length and word level differences between initially designated and redesignated bilingual students compared to their English-only peers. Finally, we see that the model works better with our higher scoring essays and is less effective explaining the lower scoring essays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examines the relationship between the features of physical and social environments and neighborhood crime in a large Korean city. We utilized the 112 Crime Calls Data from May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019, aggregated at the ¼-mile egohood level. We estimated a series of negative binomial regression models to test the effects of social and physical environmental features on crime rates. Furthermore, we examine potential moderating effects between the measures of physical and social environments. The results indicate that incorporating the physical and social environmental features based on the theoretical framework of criminal opportunities and social disorganization can be useful for understanding the spatial patterns of crime in Korean context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the relationship between exercise-induced hypertension and carotid artery intima-media thickness in long-distance runners. Sixty healthy male runners aged 40 to 60 years were assigned to the following three groups based on resting blood pressure and maximal systolic blood pressure during a maximal exercise test: normal blood pressure response, exercise-induced hypertension, and complex hypertension. An exaggerated systolic blood pressure response was defined as a maximal systolic blood pressure+≥+210 mmHg during the maximal exercise test, while carotid intima-media thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasonography. The carotid intima-media thickness mean values were the highest in the complex hypertension group (0.72±0.11 mm), followed by exercise-induced hypertension (0.62±0.12 mm) and normal blood pressure groups (0.55±0.13 mm), with a significant difference between the groups (p+<+0.002). In linear regression analysis, the mean intima-media thickness was independently associated with age (p=0.015) and maximal systolic blood pressure (p=0.046) but not with resting systolic blood pressure. These results suggest that exercise-induced hypertension is associated with carotid intima-media thickness, a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease, in long-distance runners. Therefore, evaluating the blood pressure response during exercise is important for the early detection of potential cardiovascular disease risks in long-distance runners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Summer heat stress adversely affects the productivity and economic viability of lactating Holstein cows. We explored the effects of dietary supplementation with L-tryptophan or L-ascorbic acid on milk production characteristics and plasma metabolites in lactating Holstein cows during the summer. The results showed that the supplementation with L-tryptophan or L-ascorbic acid reduced heat stress in lactating Holstein cows during the summer. In particular, L-tryptophan supplementation increased the concentration of melatonin in milk. However, there were no significant differences in milk yield or composition between the treatments. Therefore, further research is needed to explore the effects of increasing the dosage of supplements and to investigate the combination strategies of the dietary supplements used in the current study. This study investigated the effects of rumen-protected L-tryptophan or L-ascorbic acid supplementation on the productivity of lactating Holstein cows during a high-temperature period. Thirty cows were assigned to three dietary groups: control (CON), treatment 1 (TRT 1; rumen-protected L-tryptophan, 20 g/cow/d), and treatment 2 (TRT 2; rumen-protected L-ascorbic acid, 20 g/cow/d). As the high-temperature period progressed, the decrease in milk yield and dry matter intake (DMI) in the TRT 1 and TRT 2 groups was lower than that in the CON group. The total protein level in the plasma of the TRT 1 group was higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). Milk melatonin concentration was higher in the TRT 1 group than in the CON and TRT 2 groups (p < 0.05). Thus, the present results indicate that rumen-protected L-tryptophan or L-ascorbic acid has positive effects in preventing declines in DMI and milk yield by reducing heat stress in Holstein cows. In particular, rumen-protected L-tryptophan is considered effective in increasing the melatonin concentration in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to fabricate mini-tablets of polyhedrons containing theophylline using a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer, and to evaluate the correlation between release kinetics models and their geometric shapes. The filaments containing theophylline, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and EUDRAGIT RS PO (EU) could be obtained with a consistent thickness through pre-drying before hot melt extrusion (HME). Mini-tablets of polyhedrons ranging from tetrahedron to icosahedron were 3D-printed using the same formulation of the filament, ensuring equal volumes. The release kinetics models derived from dissolution tests of the polyhedrons, along with calculations for various physical parameters (edge, SA: surface area, SA/W: surface area/weight, SA/V: surface area/volume), revealed that the correlation between the Higuchi model and the SA/V was the highest (R2 = 0.995). It was confirmed that using 3D- printing for the development of personalized or pediatric drug products allows for the adjustment of drug dosage by modifying the size or shape of the drug while maintaining or controlling the same release profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts a comparative analysis of Buddhist sacred structures throughout Asia, focusing on the historical development, regional disparities, and the cultural sinification process of stūpas, caityas, and pagodas. Specifically, it delves into the origins, definitions, and terminologies of early Buddhist monuments, such as stūpas/mahācetiyas and caityas/cetiyas, emphasizing their Indian origins. The research further explores the adaptation and reinterpretation of these original Indian concepts as they spread to East Asia, morphing into new forms, such as pagodas and Buddha halls. It examines the subtle shifts in terminology and the altered meanings and functions of these monuments, from their Indian origins to their sinified representations in East Asia. The transformation of Indian Buddhist monuments through local culture and technology into East Asian architectural forms is investigated, offering a detailed perspective on the dynamic transformation of sacred spaces in Buddhism. This illustrates the religion's adaptability and integration with the local cultures of ancient East Asia. By analyzing the terminologies and symbolic meanings associated with the architectural transition from stūpa to pagoda, the study argues that sinicized ritual spaces in East Asia have adopted architectural types from pre-Buddhist traditions to represent Indian spaces, thereby highlighting the nuanced changes and the continuous adaptation of sacred Buddhist architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue of the journal "Viruses" focused on advances in research on alphaviruses and flaviviruses. The special issue includes research articles, review articles, and brief reports covering various aspects of these viruses. The research articles explore topics such as the susceptibility of chickens to Zika virus, serological misdiagnosis of certain viruses in Australia, the evolutionary history of dengue virus in Brazil, and the pathogenesis of Tembusu virus in mammals. The review articles discuss the mechanisms and environmental factors of yellow fever virus and the immune responses to chikungunya virus. The brief reports present a phylogenetic analysis of dengue virus serotypes and the development of a mouse infection model for vaccine testing. Overall, this special issue provides new insights into alphavirus and flavivirus research. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Cancers in general, and specifically lung cancer, continue to have low patient survival rates when the patient is at an advanced stage when diagnosed. It appears that the local environment, especially fibroblasts and their signaling molecules, tends to induce metastasis, increase cancer cell resistance to treatment, and aid in tumor growth rates. Since 3-D models quickly become too complex and/or expensive and therefore rarely leave the lab they are developed in, it is interesting to develop a 2-D model that more closely mimics clustered tumor formation and bulk interaction with a surrounding fibroblast environment. Methods: In the present study, we utilize an off-the-shelf stereolithography 3-D printer, standard use well plates, magnets, and metallic tubes to create a customizable 2-D co-culture system capable of being analyzed quantitatively with staining and qualitatively with standard fluorescent/brightfield microscopy to determine cancer-fibroblast interactions while also being able to test chemotherapeutic drugs in a high-throughput manner with standard 96-well plates. Results: Comparisons from monoculture and co-culture growth rates show that the presence of fibroblasts allows for significantly increased growth rates for H460 cancer. Additionally, the viability of cancer cells can be quantified with simple cell staining methods, and morphology and cell-cell interactions can be observed and studied. Discussion: The high throughput model demonstrates that boundary condition changes can be observed between cancer cells and fibroblasts based upon the different chemotherapeutics that have been administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) has improved gradually since the introduction of FOLFIRINOX (FFX) and gemcitabine + albumin-bound paclitaxel (GnP) regimens. However, the trends and outcomes of initial palliative chemotherapy before and after the advent of these regimens and their contribution to survival rates are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate this in patients with PC in Korea using claims data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Methods: Patients diagnosed with PC who underwent initial palliative chemotherapy between 2007 and 2019 were identified from the NHIS database. Patient demographics, comorbidities, chemotherapy regimens, and survival rates were analyzed using follow-up data up to 2020. Results: In total, 14,760 patients (mean age, 63.78 ± 10.18 years; men, 59.19%) were enrolled. As initial palliative chemotherapy, 3823 patients (25.90%) received gemcitabine alone; 2779 (18.83%) received gemcitabine + erlotinib; 1948 (13.20%) received FFX; and 1767 (11.97%) received GnP. The median survival values were 15.00 months for FFX; 11.04 months for GnP; 8.40 months for gemcitabine alone; and 8.51 months for gemcitabine + erlotinib. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for GnP vs. FFX was 1.291 (95% CI, 1.206–1.383) in the multivariate Cox regression analysis of mortality. Radiation therapy (aHR, 0.667; 95% CI, 0.612–0.728) and second-line chemotherapy (aHR, 0.639; 95% CI, 0.597–0.684) were significantly associated with improved survival. Conclusions: Our study found that first-line chemotherapy with FFX was associated with significantly longer survival than the other regimens, although caution is needed in interpreting the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate reading-writing relations. Beyond the overall relation, we systematically investigated moderation of the relation as a function of linguistic grain size (word reading and spelling versus reading comprehension and written composition), measurement of reading comprehension (e.g., multiple choice, open-ended, cloze), and written composition (e.g., writing quality, writing productivity, writing fluency, writing syntax), and developmental phase of reading and writing (grade levels as a proxy). A total of 395 studies (k = 2,265, N = 120,669) met inclusion criteria. Overall, reading and writing were strongly related (r =.72). However, the relation differed depending on the subskills of reading and writing such that word reading and spelling were strongly related (r =.82) whereas reading comprehension and written composition were moderately related (r =.44). In addition, the word reading-spelling relation was stronger for primary-grade students (r =.82) than for university students/adults (r =.69). The relation of reading comprehension with written composition differed depending on measurement of reading comprehension and written composition—reading comprehension measured by multiple choice and open-ended tasks had a stronger relation with writing quality than reading comprehension measured by oral retell tasks; and reading comprehension had moderate relations with writing quality, writing vocabulary, writing syntax, and writing conventions but had weak relations with writing productivity and writing fluency. Relations tended to be stronger when reliability was higher, and the relation between word reading and spelling was stronger for alphabetic languages (r =.83) than for Chinese (r =.71). These results add important nuances about the nature of relations between reading and writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitogenome is an important tool for taxonomic and evolutionary investigation. Here, a few complete mitogenomes of red algae have been reported. We have reported the complete mitogenome sequences of Grateloupia cornea Okamura, 1913 (Rhodophyta, Halymeniales). The genome is 30,595 bp in circumference, and has a strongly biased [AT] = 66.9%. Like most other Grateloupia species, it has a group II intron in the cox1 gene. Maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony analyses showed that G. cornea is more closely related to G. asiatica. This shows that the group II intron in the cox1 ORF present in most species of Grateloupia was present in their common ancestor, and uniquely lost in G. asiatica. The seven Grateloupia species with known mitogenome sequences remain monophyletic, with the genus Polyopes as sister taxon. The complete mitochondrial genome data will be valuable for future research on comparative mitochondrial genome analysis, an extensive understanding of gene content and organization, evolution of the cox1 intron in Rhodophyta as well as phylogenetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bernoulli’s method finds a primary solvent of an unilateral quadratic matrix equation A X 2 + B X + C = 0 when some conditions are given on its coefficients. When a stricter condition is given, diagonal update method improves the performances of Bernoulli method, both in terms of number of iterations and in computational time. In this paper, we suggest generalized diagonal update method which improves Bernoulli’s method without the stricter condition. We also define optimal constant for the generalized diagonal update method, which guarantees monotone convergence to the primary solvent. We compare iteration numbers of the generalized diagonal update method with pure Bernoulli’s method, also compare computational time of them with the Newton’s method and the cyclic reduction. Furthermore, we show that this generalized diagonal update method is useful to solve unilateral quadratic matrix equations with the form A X 2 + ϵ B X + C = 0 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most artificial intelligence (AI) studies have attempted to identify dental implant systems (DISs) while excluding low-quality and distorted dental radiographs, limiting their actual clinical use. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an AI model, trained on a large and multi-center dataset, in identifying different types of DIS in low-quality and distorted dental radiographs. Based on the fine-tuned pre-trained ResNet-50 algorithm, 156,965 panoramic and periapical radiological images were used as training and validation datasets, and 530 low-quality and distorted images of four types (including those not perpendicular to the axis of the fixture, radiation overexposure, cut off the apex of the fixture, and containing foreign bodies) were used as test datasets. Moreover, the accuracy performance of low-quality and distorted DIS classification was compared using AI and five periodontists. Based on a test dataset, the performance evaluation of the AI model achieved accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score metrics of 95.05%, 95.91%, 92.49%, and 94.17%, respectively. However, five periodontists performed the classification of nine types of DISs based on four different types of low-quality and distorted radiographs, achieving a mean overall accuracy of 37.2 ± 29.0%. Within the limitations of this study, AI demonstrated superior accuracy in identifying DIS from low-quality or distorted radiographs, outperforming dental professionals in classification tasks. However, for actual clinical application of AI, extensive standardization research on low-quality and distorted radiographic images is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of community-based tourism (CBT) on residents' quality of life (QOL) has been realized in many aspects, concerning attitude, physical, environmental, and relationships in society. However, several positive and negative factors influence QOL, and few studies have explored these factors. Focusing on measuring the significant CBT factors that have not been previously explored and examined, this study explored factors that influence QOL in CBT using factor analysis. The results show that CBT factors measuring residents' QOL, such as economic, public administration, technology, external actors, and social inequalities in several community-based attributes, can measure the effect on residents' QOL. This study emphasizes that CBT factors are suitably performed and managed can dynamically reduce and alleviate the impacts on residents' QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we propose a deep learning-based nystagmus detection algorithm using video oculography (VOG) data to diagnose benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Various deep learning architectures were utilized to develop and evaluate nystagmus detection models. Among the four deep learning architectures used in this study, the CNN1D model proposed as a nystagmus detection model demonstrated the best performance, exhibiting a sensitivity of 94.06 ± 0.78%, specificity of 86.39 ± 1.31%, precision of 91.34 ± 0.84%, accuracy of 91.02 ± 0.66%, and an F1-score of 92.68 ± 0.55%. These results indicate the high accuracy and generalizability of the proposed nystagmus diagnosis algorithm. In conclusion, this study validates the practicality of deep learning in diagnosing BPPV and offers avenues for numerous potential applications of deep learning in the medical diagnostic sector. The findings of this research underscore its importance in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated intraocular pressure (IOP) in Dutch belted rabbits using two different tonometers, rebound tonometry (TonoVet Plus; TVP) and a Tonopen (Tono-Pen AVIA Vet; TPA). Post-pubescent male Dutch belted rabbits aged 36 weeks (n = 10 animals) were used in the study. IOP measurements were conducted every 2 weeks for 22 weeks using TVP and TPA on both eyes of each rabbit. The average IOP measurements were compared by the paired Student’s t-test. Pairwise Pearson’s correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman statistics were used. The overall mean IOP measured with TPA was significantly higher than that with TVP (23.5 ± 4.9 vs. 21.8 ± 2.4 mmHg for the right eyes; P = 0.045, and 23.0 ± 4.7 vs. 21.5 ± 2.4 mmHg for the left eyes; P = 0.047). Both tonometers tended to show increased IOP readings with age, and positive correlations between IOP and age were observed with both TPA (r = 0.95, P < 0.001 for right eyes; r = 0.95, P < 0.001 for left eyes) and TVP (r = 0.91, P < 0.001 for right eyes; r = 0.64, P = 0.024 for left eyes). The average bias calculated by subtracting TPA from TVP was − 1.60 (95% confidence intervals − 1.927, − 1.281) mmHg. IOP in post-pubescent Dutch belted rabbits tended to increase with age throughout the 22 week study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose Experimental Approach Key Results Conclusion and Implications Cytoplasmic fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1)‐interacting protein 2 (CYFIP2), as a component of the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein family verprolin‐homologous protein (WAVE) regulatory complex, is involved in actin polymerization, contributing to neuronal development and structural plasticity. Mutating serine‐968 to phenylalanine (S968F) in CYFIP2 causes an altered cocaine response in mice. The neuronal mechanisms underlying this response remain unknown.We performed cocaine reward‐related behavioural tests and examined changes in synaptic protein phenotypes and neuronal morphology in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), using CYFIP2 S968F knock‐in mice to investigate the role of CYFIP2 in regulating cocaine reward.CYFIP2 S968F mutation attenuated cocaine‐induced behavioural sensitization and conditioned place preference. Cocaine‐induced c‐Fos was not observed in the NAc of CYFIP2 S968F knock‐in mice. However, c‐Fos induction was still evident in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). CYFIP2 S968F mutation altered cocaine‐associated CYFIP2 signalling, glutamatergic protein expression and synaptic density in the NAc following cocaine exposure. To further determine the role of CYFIP2 in NAc neuronal activity and the mPFC projecting to the NAc activity‐mediating reward response, we used optogenetic tools to stimulate the NAc or mPFC‐NAc pathway and observed that optogenetic activation of the NAc or mPFC‐NAc pathway induced reward‐related behaviours. This effect was not observed in the S968F mutation in CYFIP2.These results suggest that CYFIP2 plays a role in controlling cocaine‐mediated neuronal function and structural plasticity in the NAc, and that CYFIP2 could serve as a target for regulating cocaine reward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is a self-degradation system for recycling to maintain homeostasis. p62/sequestosome-1 (p62) is an autophagy receptor that accumulates in neuroglia in neurodegenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the elevation of plasma p62 protein levels in patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease 1A (CMT1A) for its clinical usefulness to assess disease severity. We collected blood samples from 69 CMT1A patients and 59 healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of p62 were analyzed by ELISA, and we compared them with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy score version 2 (CMTNSv2). A mouse CMT1A model (C22) was employed to determine the source and mechanism of plasma p62 elevation. Plasma p62 was detected in healthy controls with median value of 1978 pg/ml, and the levels were significantly higher in CMT1A (2465 pg/ml, p < 0.001). The elevated plasma p62 levels were correlated with CMTNSv2 (r = 0.621, p < 0.0001), motor nerve conduction velocity (r = − 0.490, p < 0.0001) and disease duration (r = 0.364, p < 0.01). In C22 model, increased p62 expression was observed not only in pathologic Schwann cells but also in plasma. Our findings indicate that plasma p62 measurement could be a valuable tool for evaluating CMT1A severity and Schwann cell pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe delayed photoneutron effect should be considered in the point kinetics equation (PKE) applied to D2O and beryllium-moderated or -reflected systems because of its importance on reactor kinetics. This paper proposes neutron-photon-coupled PKE with a clear definition of adjoint-weighted kinetics parameters after providing the mathematical derivation from the neutron and photon transport and precursor equations. The Monte Carlo algorithms to estimate the kinetics parameters are induced from their definition and implemented in the eigenvalue calculation module of McCARD. They are verified through homogeneous infinite-medium problems with few-group neutron and photon cross sections by comparing with analytic solutions.The proposed PKE and kinetics parameters estimation methods are applied for the kinetics analyses of the artificial control rod drop transient problem in the RB reactor. Photonuclear physics is also implemented in a time-dependent Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the reference data of neutron amplitude in the core to be compared with the PKE results. As good agreement is shown in the neutron amplitude, it is validated that the developed PKE is capable of predicting the reactor kinetics considering photoneutrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in patients with rheumatologic disease. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who were diagnosed with rheumatologic diseases at a tertiary care hospital between May 2009 and July 2022 and identified the patients who were subsequently diagnosed with MDS. Each patient with MDS was matched with five age- and sex-matched controls chosen from the cohort of patients with each specific rheumatologic disease. Results During a total follow-up of 55 841 person-years (PY), MDS occurred in 64 patients, yielding an incidence rate of 1.15/1000 PY {median age 57.0 years [interquartile range (IQR) 41.0–69.0], median duration to MDS diagnosis 6.5 years (IQR 3.0–9.0)]. In an age-matched analysis, SLE was a significant risk factor for MDS [adjusted hazard ratio 2.61 (CI 1.19, 36.06), P  = 0.01]. Refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia was the most common phenotype of MDS (35.9%), and more than half of the patients had karyotypes with a favourable prognosis (54.7%). Compared with matched controls, RA, SLE and AS patients with MDS had lower levels of haemoglobin at the time of diagnosis of rheumatologic disease. Furthermore, the MDS patients with SLE and Behçet's disease had higher levels of glucocorticoid use in terms of frequency of use and mean dose than control patients. Conclusion SLE is a significant risk factor for MDS among patients with rheumatologic diseases. A lower haemoglobin level at the time of diagnosis of rheumatologic disease was associated with the future development of MDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the association of primary and third doses of vaccination with the risk of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. This retrospective cohort study utilized a combined database of nationwide health care claims data, COVID-19 patient registry, and vaccination records from South Korea. Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Omicron variant-dominant period of January–March 2022 were tracked for 30–120 days post-infection. The exposure of interest was the receipt of primary and third doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The occurrence of 26 specific conditions in eight domains was compared using Cox regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting. This study included 394 773 unvaccinated individuals and 7 604 081 individuals receiving ≥2 doses of vaccine. Compared with unvaccinated individuals, vaccination with at least two doses was associated with a reduced risk (adjusted hazard ratio; 95% CI) of several conditions, including ischaemic heart disease (0.73; 0.57–0.94), heart failure (0.55; 0.48–0.63), cardiac dysrhythmia (0.72; 0.61–0.85), cardiac arrest (0.41; 0.33–0.51), pulmonary embolism (0.66; 0.52–0.84), venous thromboembolism (0.54; 0.44–0.66), acute renal failure (0.56; 0.46–0.67), new dialysis (0.45; 0.34–0.59), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (0.74; 0.65–0.84), acute pancreatitis (0.64; 0.51–0.80), and diabetes (0.82; 0.71–0.95). The risks of heart failure, cardiac dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, and new dialysis were lower in those who were vaccinated with three doses compared with those who were vaccinated with two doses. Vaccination was associated with a decreased risk of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, suggesting its potential role in mitigating the indirect impacts of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robot-assisted surgery platforms are utilized globally thanks to their stereoscopic vision systems and enhanced functional assistance. However, the necessity of ergonomic improvement for their use by surgeons has been increased. In surgical robots, issues with chronic fatigue exist owing to the fixed posture of the conventional stereo viewer (SV) vision system. A head-mounted display was adopted to alleviate the inconvenience, and a virtual vision platform (VVP) is proposed in this study. The VVP can provide various critical data, including medical images, vital signs, and patient records, in three-dimensional virtual reality space so that users can access medical information simultaneously. An availability of the VVP was investigated based on various user evaluations by surgeons and novices, who executed the given tasks and answered questionnaires. The performances of the SV and VVP were not significantly different; however, the craniovertebral angle of the VVP was 16.35° higher on average than that of the SV. Survey results regarding the VVP were positive; participants indicated that the optimal number of displays was six, preferring the 2 × 3 array. Reflecting the tendencies, the VVP can be a neoconceptual candidate to be customized for medical use, which opens a new prospect in a next-generation surgical robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We examined linguistic features in fourth graders' narrative and opinion writing and their relations to writing quality. We analysed narrative and opinion essays in terms of lexical sophistication and diversity as well as syntactic complexity, syntactic accuracy, and morphological complexity. Methods: Data were from English‐speaking students in Grade 4 (N = 129; 50% female) in the United States, majority of whom were from low socioeconomic status background. Paired t tests were used to analyse differences of linguistic features between the two genres. Hierarchical regression models were run to examine how language features are related to writing quality. Results: Words in the narrative task were more diverse and included more diverse verbal inflectional morphemes than those in the opinion task; syntactic complexity was significantly greater in the opinion genre, manifested by longer T‐units and the more frequent use of adverbial and relative clauses. Approximately 80% of T‐units were grammatical and 20% were ungrammatical. Syntactic accuracy and verbal morphological complexity of words were positively related to writing quality in the narrative task. Additionally, syntactic complexity measured by clauses per T‐unit, verbal and nominal morphological complexity of words were uniquely related to writing quality in the opinion genre. Conclusions: The findings highlight the limited extent to which Grade 4 students use complex syntax in their writing. The study also supports the critical role of linguistic features in writing quality and shows both similarities and differences in language use in two important writing genres, narrative and opinion, in elementary grades. Highlights: What is already known about this topic Linguistic features vary across writing genres.Lexical diversity contributes to narrative writing quality for elementary students.The relation between syntactic complexity and writing quality varies by genre. What this paper adds Lexical diversity and nominal morphological complexity were higher in the narrative task; T‐unit length was longer in the opinion task.Syntactic complexity positively and uniquely contributed to writing quality in the opinion task whereas syntactic accuracy positively and uniquely contributed to writing quality in the narrative task.Morphological complexity was uniquely related to writing quality in the narrative and opinion genre. Implications for theory, policy or practice Students in upper elementary grades may benefit from explicit and systematic instruction on salient linguistic features in different genres.Students in upper elementary grades may benefit from explicit and systematic instruction on syntactic accuracy and structures and morphological structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooling performance of a centrifuge was enhanced using a perforated windshield. The windshield spatially separates the rotor and the chamber, reducing turbulence and air resistance. On the other hand, during centrifuge rotation, heat is generated by friction between the internal structure and air. Optimizing the windshield shape and facilitating efficient heat exchange with the chamber wall are essential for cooling the sample container inside the windshield. This study examined the cooling performance of the perforated windshield through analysis and experiment. The effects of the presence, location, and diameter of the perforations were compared using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and considering temperature and flow characteristics. These results suggest that the perforated windshield enhances the cooling performance of the centrifuge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the rationale behind the combination of Buddha mahāstūpas (mahācetiyas) and cetiyas (caityas) within a Buddhist monastery. In integrating a broader intellectual program, the universality of the concept is exemplified, wherein "mahācetiya and cetiya" are combined to symbolize the life of Buddha through architectural arrangements. Adopting a broader intellectual program grounded in the causality principle signifies an inclination toward universality. These combinations represent sacred places and events in Buddha's life, from birth to Mahaparinirvana. They encompass significant moments, such as great departures, meditation, enlightenment, and preaching. The synthesis of mahācetiyas and apsidal shrines was a pivotal moment at the site, guided by the Mahāsaṅghika School, representing an innovative invention in the pursuit of narrative framing of Buddha's biography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading and writing are often taught separately. This article explores the crucial relations between these skills, emphasizing the importance of understanding the "what" and "why" to effectively plan the "how" of integrated reading–writing instruction. The Interactive Dynamic Literacy Model (Kim, Reading‐writing connections: Towards integrative literacy science. Springer; Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2022, 55, 447), supported by empirical evidence, illustrates how reading and writing skills are interwoven, forming hierarchical, interactive, and dynamic relations, and advocates for integrated teaching to enhance the development of both skills. Understanding these relations is essential for educators to design comprehensive and effective literacy instruction that supports the development of both foundational and higher‐order reading and writing skills. We propose three principles for effective integrated reading‐writing instruction: (a) leveraging assessment data in reading and writing to inform effective integrated instruction; (b) ensuring the development of lower‐order skills while also supporting the development of higher‐order skills; and (c) making reading‐writing connections visible. Illustrative examples are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes an on-line minimum loss (ML) control strategy that considers the iron and copper losses of an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor in torque-controlled applications. The proposed ML control strategy utilizes a constrained optimization problem to satisfy torque reference tracking and loss minimization. An equivalent iron loss resistance circuit is adopted for the loss minimization. To solve the optimization problem, the Lagrange multiplier method is applied through a numerical analysis algorithm. The resulting solution provides the optimal current reference for every sampling instant. The Lagrange multiplier method needs parameters such as magnetic flux linkages, dynamic inductances, and iron loss resistance. Fundamental magnetic flux linkages are estimated using a flux observer, and the dynamic inductances are estimated with high-frequency voltage signal injection. The proposed iron loss resistance estimator estimates the equivalent iron resistance without any preliminary experiments. DC input power is measured using a current sensor for the accurate on-line estimation of iron loss resistance. To analyze the effectiveness of ML control compared with conventional maximum torque per ampere control, finite element analysis is used. The feasibility of the proposed ML control strategy is verified through simulation and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical models hold that written products (e.g., quality of written composition) are the outcome of the writing process (e.g., translation, transcription, revision) and skills and knowledge on which the writing process draws (e.g., language, transcription, cognitive skills). In the present study, we examined the relations among writing quality; the writing production process measured by writing fluency; and language, cognitive, and transcription skills, using longitudinal data from English-speaking beginning writers who were followed from kindergarten to Grade 2 (N = 261). Children's working memory, attentional control, spelling, handwriting fluency, vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, and writing quality were measured in kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2. Writing fluency was measured in Grade 2 in two ways, using a process-based measure, writing burst length (chunks of text produced between pauses during writing), and a product-based measure, the number of words produced per total writing time. Results from structural equation modeling showed that Grade 2 writing fluency was moderately related to Grade 2 writing quality (.40) and completely mediated the relations of Grade 1 spelling and handwriting fluency skills to Grade 2 writing quality. In contrast, Grade 1 vocabulary was directly related to Grade 2 writing quality over and above Grade 2 writing fluency. Kindergarten working memory was indirectly related to Grade 2 writing fluency via Grade 1 spelling skill. These findings indicate that the writing production process measured by writing fluency mediates the relations of transcription skills to writing quality, and executive function is indirectly related to writing fluency via transcription skills for beginning writers. Educational Impact and Implications Statement: This study advances our understanding of how a written product, writing quality, is predicted by the writing production process measured by writing fluency as well as language, cognitive, and transcription skills. We measured young beginning writers' writing fluency by a process-based measure, writing bursts (chunks of text produced between pauses while writing) using a digital pen with an infrared camera at its nib, as well as a product-based measure, the number of words produced per total writing time. Results showed that children who had higher writing fluency—those who produced longer writing bursts (who can write more words and letters per burst) and wrote a greater number of words per total writing time—had higher quality writing, and this was explained directly by transcription skills and indirectly by executive functions such as working memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense silicon carbide (SiC) composites with 0–30 vol% (ZrN-TiB 2) were fabricated by using liquid phase spark plasma sintering at a relatively lower sintering temperature (1800 °C) and shorter holding time (5 min). The effects of co-addition of ZrN and TiB 2 on densification, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of SiC ceramics were investigated. The reinforcement significantly enhanced density of sintered composites, while the phase analysis and microstructure confirm the suppression of β→α phase transformation in the SiC matrix. The fracture toughness ranged from 4.1 to 4.6 MPa·m0.5, hardness from 19.5 to 20.3 GPa, and electrical conductivity from 4.85 ×101 to 1.25 ×103 (Ω·cm)−1. Incorporating conductive reinforcements and nitrogen additives enhanced electrical conductivity. Successful wire-EDM cutting of SiC-ZrN-TiB 2 composites demonstrate the feasible alternative to conventional machining of non-oxide ceramics with a maximum material removal rate of 8.54 mm2/min. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forsythiaside A (FA) is an active constituent isolated from Forsythia suspensa, a beneficial herb used in traditional medicine known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Although various studies have suggested that FA has the protective effects, its impacts on arachidonic acid (AA) plus iron in vitro models and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced mouse liver damage in vivo have not been explored. In this study, HepG2 cells were subjected to AA + iron treatment to induce apoptosis and mitochondrial impairment and determine the molecular mechanisms. FA exhibited protective effects by inhibiting cell damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by AA + iron, as assessed via immunoblot and flow cytometry analyses. Further molecular investigations revealed that FA resulted in the activation of extracellular-signal-related protein kinase (ERK), which subsequently triggered the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a critical regulator of cellular oxidative stress. Additionally, FA modulated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, which is a significant antioxidant transcription factor regulated by the AMPK pathway. For in vivo studies, mice were orally administered FA and then subjected to induction of CCl₄-based hepatotoxicity. The protective effect of FA was confirmed via blood biochemistry and immunohistochemical analyses. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated the protective effects of FA against oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo, thus indicating that FA is a potential candidate for liver protection. Our study sheds light on the mechanistic pathways involved in the antioxidant effects of FA, highlighting the hepatoprotective potential of naturally occurring compounds in traditional herbs, such as FA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-low field (ULF) with a proton Larmor frequency of around 120 kHz. The key element is a specially designed high-sensitivity sensing coil in the shape of a solenoid with a few millimeter gap between windings to decrease the proximity effect and, hence, increase the coil's quality (Q) factor and sensitivity. External noise is strongly suppressed by enclosing the sensing coil in a copper cylindrical shield, large enough not to negatively affect the coil's Q factor and sensitivity, measured to be 217 and 0.47 fT/Hz 1 / 2 , respectively. To enhance small polarization of proton spins at ULF, a strong pulsed 0.1 T prepolarization field is applied, making the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ULF MRI sufficient for high-quality imaging in a short time. We demonstrate ULF MRI of a copper sulfate solution phantom with a resolution of 1 × 1 × 8.5 mm 3 and SNR of 10. The acquisition time is 6.3 min without averaging. The sensing coil size in the current realization can accommodate imaging objects of 9 cm in size, sufficient for hand, and it can be further increased for human head imaging in the future. Since the in-plane resolution of 1 × 1 mm 2 is typical in anatomical medical imaging, this ULF MRI method can be an alternative low-cost, rapid, portable method for anatomical medical imaging of the human body or animals. This ULF MRI method can supplement other MRI methods, especially when such methods are restricted due to high cost, portability requirement, imaging artifacts, and other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental dependence of Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) luminosities is well established, and efforts are being made to find its origin. Previous studies typically use the currently observed status of the host galaxy. However, given the delay time between the birth of the progenitor star and the SN Ia explosion, the currently observed status may differ from the birth environment of the SN Ia progenitor star. In this paper, employing the chemical evolution and accurately determined stellar population properties of 44 early-type host galaxies, we, for the first time, estimate the SN Ia progenitor star birth environment, specifically [Fe/H]Birth and [α/Fe]Birth. We show that [α/Fe]Birth has a |$30.4^{\text{+10.6}}_{-10.1}{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| wider range than the currently observed [α/Fe]Current, while the range of [Fe/H]Birth is not statistically different (⁠|$17.9^{\text{+26.0}}_{-27.1}{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$|⁠) to that of [Fe/H]Current. The birth and current environments of [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] are sampled from different populations (p -values of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test <0.01). We find that light-curve fit parameters are insensitive to [Fe/H]Birth (<0.9σ for the non-zero slope), while a linear trend is observed with Hubble residuals (HRs) at the 2.4σ significance level. With [α/Fe]Birth, no linear trends (<1.1σ) are observed. Interestingly, we find that [α/Fe]Birth clearly splits the SN Ia sample into two groups: SN Ia exploded in [α/Fe]Birth-rich or [α/Fe]Birth-poor environments. SNe Ia exploded in different [α/Fe]Birth groups have different weighted-means of light-curve shape parameters: 0.81 ± 0.33 (2.5σ). They are thought to be drawn from different populations (p -value = 0.01). Regarding SN Ia colour and HRs, there is no difference (<1.0σ) in the weighted-means and distribution (p -value > 0.27) of each [α/Fe]Birth group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid biopsy, which promises noninvasive detection of tumor-derived material, has recently been highlighted because of its potential to lead us to an era of precision medicine. However, its development has encountered challenges owing to the extremely low frequency and low purity of circulating tumor markers, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating exosomes, and circulating tumor nucleic acids (ctNAs). Much effort has been made to overcome this limitation over the last decade, and an increasing number of studies have shown interest in the special characteristics of hydrogels. This hydrophilic and biocompatible polymeric network, which absorbs a large amount of water, can aid in the isolation, protection, and analysis of these low-abundance and short-lived circulating biomarkers. The role of hydrogels in liquid biopsy is extensive and ranges from enrichment to encapsulation. This review provides an overview of hydrogel-based technologies to pave the way in liquid biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe excess relative risk (ERR) model is a statistical model commonly used in radiation epidemiology to estimate the increased risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure. Generally, the parameters of the ERR model are estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation in generalized nonlinear models (GNMs) with a log-linear link function. One of the key challenges in applying GNMs is the evaluation of model uncertainty. We investigated likelihood-based approaches (Wald and profile likelihood methods) and various bootstrap confidence interval estimation methods to evaluate the statistical uncertainty of the model parameter estimators. In addition, we compared nonparametric and parametric resampling techniques in a GNM setting. Numerical studies were conducted on the normal, Poisson, and Bernoulli random variables of the responses given covariates. We applied the proposed methods to the ERR models used in the Life Span Study at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation and the Korean diagnostic medical radiation workers cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Well-known risk factors for gallbladder polyps include metabolic syndrome, age, and dyslipidemia. Jeju Island is approximately 80 km from the Korean peninsula and is divided into two administrative regions (Jeju City and Seogwipo City), with Mount Halla intervening in the center. Jeju City has higher employment and birth rates than Seogwipo City. Age and alcohol consumption differ between the two regions, and these factors may affect the prevalence of gallbladder polyps (GBPs). Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of GBPs and compared various factors, including alcohol consumption habits and age, associated with GBPs among residents in the two regions. Methods: This study included 21,734 residents who visited the Health Screening and Promotion Center of Jeju National University Hospital between January 2009 and December 2019. We investigated the prevalence and associated factors of GBPs among residents of Jeju City and Seogwipo City. Results: The prevalence of GBPs in Jeju City and Seogwipo City was 9.8% and 8.9% (p = 0.043), respectively. The mean age and rate of high-risk alcohol intake were higher in Seogwipo City. The mean body mass index and levels of fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase were lower in Jeju City. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a significant difference in GBP prevalence between the two regions of Jeju Island. Age and alcohol consumption might contribute to this difference; however, further prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is rare among athletes. However, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of SCD among those <35 years of age. Meanwhile, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary SCD cause among those ≥35 years of age. CAD-induced plaque ruptures are believed to be a significant cause of cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged individuals who participate in extreme long-distance running activities such as marathons. A total of 1970 articles related to EIH were identified using search terms. Out of these, 1946 studies were excluded for reasons such as arterial hypertension, exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension, the absence of exercise stress testing (EST), and a lack of relevance to EIH. The study analyzed 24 studies related to both long-distance runners with exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) and the general public. Among these, 11 studies were quasi-experimentally designed studies used in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on long-distance runners with EIH. Additionally, 12 studies utilized cohort designs, and one study with a quasi-experimental design was conducted among the general population. Recent studies suggest that an imbalance between oxygen demand and supply due to ventricular hypertrophy may be the actual cause of cardiovascular disease, regardless of CAD. Exercising excessively over an extended period can reduce endothelial function and increase arterial stiffness, which in turn increases afterload and leads to an excessive increase in blood pressure during exercise. Exercise-induced hypertension (EIH), which increases the morbidity rate of resting hypertension and is a risk factor for cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases, is more prevalent in middle-aged long-distance runners than in runners from other age groups, and it increases the prevalence of critical arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular arrhythmias. EIH is associated with angiotensin II activity, and angiotensin II receptor blockers show promising effects in middle-aged runners. Further, guidelines for preventing excessive participation in races and restricting exercise intensity and frequency would be useful. This review identifies EIH as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and describes how EIH induces SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to critically assess different micromechanical analysis models applied to carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites, employing micromechanics-based homogenization to accurately predict their effective properties. The paper begins with the simplest Voigt and Reuss models and progresses to more sophisticated micromechanics-based models, including the Mori–Tanaka and Method of Cells (MOC) models. It provides a critical review of the areas in which these micromechanics-based models are effective and analyses of their limitations. The numerical analysis results were confirmed through finite element simulations of the periodic representative volume element (RVE). Furthermore, the effective properties predicted by these micromechanics-based models were validated via experiments conducted on IM7/5320-1 composite material with a fiber volume fraction of 0.62. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helical structures of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) hold promise in soft robotics for self‐regulated rolling motions. The understanding of their motion paths and potentials for terrain exploration remains limited. This study introduces a self‐adjusting, lateral‐rolling soft robot inspired by sidewinder snakes. The spring‐like LCE helical filaments (HFs) autonomously respond to thermal cues, demonstrating dynamic and sustainable locomotion with adaptive rolling along non‐linear paths. By fine‐tuning the diameter, pitch, and modulus of the LCE HFs, and the environmental temperature, the movements of the LCE HFs, allowing for exploration of diverse terrains over a 600 cm2 area within a few minutes, can be programmed. LCE HFs are showcased to navigate through over nine obstacles, including maze escaping, terrain exploration, target hunting, and successfully surmounting staircases through adaptable rolling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family is a crucial component of heterochromatin with diverse functions in gene regulation, cell cycle control, and cell differentiation. In humans, there are three paralogs, HP1α, HP1β, and HP1γ, which exhibit remarkable similarities in their domain architecture and sequence properties. Nevertheless, these paralogs display distinct behaviors in liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a process linked to heterochromatin formation. Here, we employ a coarse-grained simulation framework to uncover the sequence features responsible for the observed differences in LLPS. We highlight the significance of the net charge and charge patterning along the sequence in governing paralog LLPS propensities. We also show that both highly conserved folded and less-conserved disordered domains contribute to the observed differences. Furthermore, we explore the potential co-localization of different HP1 paralogs in multicomponent assemblies and the impact of DNA on this process. Importantly, our study reveals that DNA can significantly reshape the stability of a minimal condensate formed by HP1 paralogs due to competitive interactions of HP1α with HP1β and HP1γ versus DNA. In conclusion, our work highlights the physicochemical nature of interactions that govern the distinct phase-separation behaviors of HP1 paralogs and provides a molecular framework for understanding their role in chromatin organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to isolate actinomycetes that exhibit strong herbicidal activity, identify compounds active against weeds, and researching methods to improve the production of these compounds through culture optimization to establish a foundation for the development of environmentally friendly bioherbicides. 334-W4, one of the herbicidal active substances isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. KRA16-334, exhibited herbicidal activity against various weeds. The molecular formula of 334-W4 was determined to be C16H26N2O6, based on ESI-MS (m/z) and 1H and 13C NMR spectral data. It had molecular weight 365.1689 [M+Na] and 343.1869 [M+H], indicating the presence of the epoxy-β-aminoketone moiety based on HMBC correlations. Additionally, selective culture was possible depending on the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) during culture with GSS medium. Experiments confirmed that exposure of the KRA16-334 strain to UV irradiation (254 nm, height 17 cm) for 45 seconds improved the yield of the active substance (334-W4) by over 200%. As a result of examining yields of active materials of four mutants selected through optimization of culture conditions such as temperature, agitation, and initial pH, the yield of one mutant 0723–8 was 264.7 ± 12.82 mg/L, which was 2.8-fold higher than that of wild-type KRA16-334 at 92.8 ± 5.48 mg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four-wheel independent steering (4WIS) vehicles refer to vehicles designed to be able to move in multi-orientation by eliminating the mechanical linkage among the wheels. This study aims to evaluate and compare the usability of previously proposed 4WIS vehicle controllers. A usability test with 33 drivers was conducted to compare the five control interfaces (steering wheel buttons, touchscreen buttons, center console buttons, joystick, and paddle shifters). In order to identify what factors contributes to the usability of 4WIS control interfaces, we utilized a mixed-method approach that collects and analyzes both quantitative and qualitative data within the study. The quantitative results indicate that button-type interfaces shorten task completion time and reduce workload than joystick or paddle shifters. Qualitative analysis implies that touchscreen buttons reduce the perceived safety of drivers due to the lack of tactile feedback. Design recommendations for 4WIS control interfaces were provided from the usability testing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past several decades, significant criticism of the categorical classification system for personality disorders has highlighted the need to transition to a dimensional classification system. This study reviewed key issues involved in the potential conversion of the diagnostic system of personality disorders from a categorical to a dimensional model. The result suggests that Kernberg's concept of personality organization can be used to indicate the overall severity of personality pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bayesian vector autoregressive (BVAR) model with the Minnesota prior proposed by Litterman [Litterman RB. Forecasting with bayesian vector autoregressions-five years of experience. J Business Economic Statist.1986;4(1):25–38.] has been very successful in multivariate time series modelling, providing better forecasting performance. However, the conventional Minnesota prior for BVAR depends only on the latest lag; in turn, it is not suitable for multivariate long memory time series forecasting. This study extends BVAR to (possibly) high-dimensional long memory time series. To this end, we incorporate a vector heterogeneous autoregressive (VHAR) structure to accommodate long-term persistence and impose priors on distant lags as well. Our proposed Bayesian VHAR (BVHAR) models, the so-called BVHAR-S and BVHAR-L, are easy to implement by using the Normal-inverse-Wishart prior and added dummy variable approach of [Bańbura M, Giannone D, Reichlin L. Large bayesian vector auto regressions. J Appl Econom. 2010;25(1):71–92.]. A supporting simulation study also proves posterior consistency. We further apply our models to nine CBOE Volatility Indices (VIXs) and show that our BVHAR models perform best in forecasting with the narrowest forecasting region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]