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The burgeoning interest in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and the widespread adoption of in-vehicle amenities like infotainment have spurred a heightened fascination with vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs). Multi-hop routing protocols are pivotal in actualizing these in-vehicle services, such as infotainment, wirelessly. This study presents a novel protocol called multiple junction-based traffic-aware routing (MJTAR) for VANET vehicles operating in urban environments. MJTAR represents an advancement over the improved greedy traffic-aware routing (GyTAR) protocol. MJTAR introduces a distributed mechanism capable of recognizing vehicle traffic and computing curve metric distances based on two-hop junctions. Additionally, it employs a technique to dynamically select the most optimal multiple junctions between source and destination using the ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm. We implemented the proposed protocol using the network simulator 3 (NS-3) and simulation of urban mobility (SUMO) simulators and conducted performance evaluations by comparing it with GSR and GyTAR. Our evaluation demonstrates that the proposed protocol surpasses GSR and GyTAR by over 20% in terms of packet delivery ratio, with the end-to-end delay reduced to less than 1.3 s on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Preterm birth or fetal growth has been associated with reduced lung function and asthma during childhood in the general population. We aimed to elucidate whether prematurity or fetal growth has a significant influence on lung function or symptoms in children with stable asthma. Methods: We included children with stable asthma who participated in the Korean childhood Asthma Study cohort. Asthma symptoms were determined by asthma control test (ACT). Percent predicted values of pre‐ and post‐bronchodilator (BD) lung function including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow at 25%–75% of FVC (FEF25%–75%) were measured. Lung function and symptoms were compared according to the history of preterm birth and birth weight (BW) for gestational age (GA). Results: The study population consisted of 566 children (age range: 5–18 years). There were no significant differences in lung function and ACT between preterm and term subjects. We observed no significant difference in ACT but significant differences were observed in pre‐ and post‐BD FEV1, pre‐ and post‐BD FVC, and post‐BD FEF25%–75% according to BW for GA in total subjects. Two‐way ANOVA revealed that BW for GA rather than prematurity was a significant determining factor for pre‐ and post‐BD lung function. After regression analysis, BW for GA was still a significant determining factor of pre‐ and post‐BD FEV1 and pre‐ and post‐BD FEF25%–75%. Conclusion: Fetal growth rather than prematurity appears to have a significant effect on lung function in children with stable asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hf1−xZrxO2 (HZO) thin films are versatile materials suitable for advanced ferroelectric semiconductor devices. Previous studies have shown that the ferroelectricity of HZO thin films can be stabilized by doping them with group III elements at low concentrations. While doping with Y improves the ferroelectric properties, there has been limited research on Y-HZO thin films fabricated using atomic layer deposition (ALD). In this study, we investigated the effects of Y-doping cycles on the ferroelectric and electrical properties of as-deposited Y-HZO thin films with varying compositions fabricated through ALD. The Y-HZO thin films were stably crystallized without the need for post-thermal treatment and exhibited transition behavior depending on the Y-doping cycle and initial composition ratio of the HZO thin films. These Y-HZO thin films offer several advantages, including enhanced dielectric constant, leakage current density, and improved endurance. Moreover, the optimized Y-doping cycle induced a phase transformation that resulted in Y-HZO thin films with improved ferroelectric properties, exhibiting stable behavior without fatigue for up to 1010 cycles. These as-deposited Y-HZO thin films show promise for applications in semiconductor devices that require high ferroelectric properties, excellent electrical properties, and reliable performance with a low thermal budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hf- and Zr-based oxide thin films, which have various polarization characteristics depending on the crystal structure, have been intensively studied for application in various semiconductor devices due to their excellent electrical properties and complementary metal oxide semiconductor process compatibility. Especially, when the tetragonal phase is implemented, they exhibit a high dielectric constant with anti-ferroelectric properties. Therefore, in this study, the effect of Al doping in HfZrO 2 thin films was investigated from the viewpoint of the realization of a high dielectric constant and a stable anti-ferroelectric phase. Through a small amount of Al doping, the crystal structure was modulated from monoclinic to tetragonal. Also, the polarization characteristics were observed in the change of ferroelectric to anti-ferroelectric. Owing to the formation of a tetragonal structure, the dielectric constant was improved up to 41, and the leakage current density remarkably decreased by more than one order of magnitude. Moreover, the Al-doped HfZrO 2 thin film with anti-ferroelectricity exhibited excellent energy storage properties with an energy storage density and efficiency of about 53.3 J/cm3 and 76% at ±4.5 MV/cm, respectively. Therefore, we propose that Al-doped HfZrO 2 thin film could be applied as a candidate material for next-generation charge storage devices. [Display omitted] • The effect of Al doping on HfZrO 2 films was investigated for charge storage devices. • Through Al doping, the tetragonal phase with anti-ferroelectricity was stabilized. • Dielectric constant was improved up to 41 with a notable decrease in leakage current. • Al-doped HfZrO 2 exhibited excellent energy storage properties of ESD of 53.3 J/cm3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have determined the relationship between atopic dermatitis (AD) and the risk of fractures.[[1], [3]] However, there may be inconclusive due to inappropriate study design, existing recall bias, inadequate adjustment for confounders, small sample size, short-term follow-up period, and inclusion of adult participants only.[[1], [3]] This large-scale, population-based, nationwide birth cohort study investigated the relationship between AD diagnosis and fracture incidence in 1.78 million children in South Korea. The excess risk for overall fracture following AD diagnosis was greater at 0-1 year of age after AD diagnosis (aHR, 1.53; 95% CI: 1.49-1.57), and this risk persisted until 5 years of age (Figure 1). [Extracted from the article]

Background: As atopic dermatitis (AD) has been found to be related to various comorbidities as well as substantial patient burden, questions of a possible relationship between AD and nonallergic diseases beyond allergic diseases have also been raised. Objective: The aim of this nationwide matched cohort study was to evaluate whether AD would increase the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: Patients diagnosed with AD were identified from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) 2.0 database in South Korea from 2002 to 2015. Finally, 9,164 adults with AD (≥20 years old) and age, sex, household income, region of residence, disability, and baseline year-matched 9,164 controls were included in the analysis. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the development of GERD was estimated using a Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: Overall, 12.3% of the patients in the AD group developed GERD, whereas 10.4% of the individuals in the control group developed GERD. The results of the adjusted model revealed that patients with AD had a significantly increased risk of developing GERD (adjusted HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06–1.26) compared with the matched controls. Increased risk of developing GERD was consistent in subgroup analyses by sex or age groups under 60 years old as well as all the sensitivity analyses performed. Conclusions: This study suggested that appropriate management should be considered in adults with AD to prevent GERD, because AD was found to be associated with an increased risk of subsequent GERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid-free ionic conductors, known as ionoelastomers, are of great interest because of their potential for developing reliable and resilient ionic devices with elastic mechanical properties. This study presents an intrinsically stretchable diode consisting of a highly stretchable ionoelastomer bilayer vertically stacked with liquid metal electrodes. The bilayer contains two types of ionoelastomer networks: one containing fixed anions with mobile cations and one containing fixed cations with mobile anions. Both ionoelastomers use 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate to provide high stretchability. The junction between the two ionoelastomers creates a diode with excellent non-Faradaic ionic current rectification. The voltage-dependent modulation of the ionic double layer at the interface between the two ionoelastomers provides the rectification. The elastic diode works under cyclic loading to a uniaxial stretch ratio of 6 (strain of 500%), allowing the development of a highly stretchable ionic OR logic gate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) has a structure, in which a permanent magnet is inserted inside the rotor and cogging torque is generated in its structure. To solve this problem, various methods for reducing the cogging torque are being studied. The first method is to reduce the cogging torque by increasing the air-gap length by applying tapering to the rotor or stator core. However, in case of reducing the cogging torque above a certain level, the tapering application method may cause a decrease in output because the position and shape of the permanent magnet are restricted. The second method is to apply skew to the stator or rotor. This is the most reliable way to reduce the cogging torque, but the magnetization rate of the permanent magnet is low, so the manufacturability is low. In this article, we describe a rotor with rotational tapering that fuses the advantages of tapering and skew and offsets the disadvantages. The motor design used 3-D finite element analysis (FEA), and the validity of this article was verified by making the final model and comparing it with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development and wide applicability of rubber materials, it is imperative to determine their performance under various conditions. In this study, the effect of cyclic shear fatigue on natural-rubber-based anisotropic magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) with carbonyl iron particles (CIPs) was investigated under a magnetic field. An anisotropic MRE sample was prepared by moulding under a magnetic field. Cyclic shear fatigue tests were performed using a modified electromechanical fatigue system with an electromagnet. The storage modulus (G′) and loss factor in the absence or presence of a magnetic field were measured using a modified dynamic mechanical analysis system. Under a magnetic field, fatigue exhibited considerable effects to the MRE, such as migration and loss of magnetised CIPs and suppressed increase in stiffness by reducing the energy loss in the strain cycle. Therefore, the G′ of the MRE after fatigue under a magnetic field was lower than that after fatigue in the zero field. The performance of the MRE, such as absolute and relative magnetorheological effects, decreased after subjecting to cyclic shear fatigue. In addition, all measured results exhibited strain-dependent behaviour owing to the Payne effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between adenotonsillectomy (T&A) and serial changes in growth in children through a population-based nationwide study as well as the national health insurance service (NHIS) database.Methods: Propensity score (PS) matched children with and without T&A were selected in NHIS database, which includes all individuals born in Korea in 2008-2009. Serial changes of BMI and height were compared in children with and without T&A, and growth changes depending on the time of operation were also considered. The outcomes were differences in age-/sex-standardized BMI (BMI-z) and height (height-z) between the groups. Changes in BMI-z and height-z were further analyzed according to the timing of operation.Results: Of 919,707 individuals born in Korea in 2008-2009, 3172 children were included in the operation group and 31,663 PS-matched children were included in the control group. T&A was related to increased weight and height in the operation group than in the control group. At 66-71 months of age, BMI-z and height-z were 0.41 (0.02) and 0.42 (0.02), respectively, in the operation group and 0.18 (0.01) and 0.35 (0.01), respectively, in the control group. On adjustment with preoperative BMI-z, more weight gain was noted in the operation group (p < 0.001). Shortly after T&A, BMI-z increased significantly in the operation group; a significant increase in height-z was observed more than 1 year after T&A.Conclusions: Children who underwent T&A tended to experience a growth spurt; when surgical intervention such as T&A is required, care should be taken to minimize or reverse the anticipated weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheological properties of a natural rubber based magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) with spherical carbonyl iron particles (CIPs) and plate-like Sendust particles as soft magnetic particles were investigated. Isotropic and anisotropic MRE samples were prepared by molding in the absence or presence of magnetic field. Different shape of magnetic particles provided significant effect on mechanical properties of the MRE samples. The rheological properties of the MRE samples were measured in shear mode through a modified Dynamic Mechanical Analysis system equipped with an electromagnet. MRE samples containing plate-like Sendust particles showed higher shear storage modulus than MRE samples with spherical CIPs. Isotropic structures of the two types of magnetic particles contributed to improvement in MRE's performance, such as absolute and relative MR effect. The relative MR effect had a strain-dependent behavior that increased with increasing strain amplitude due to the Payne effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soy-based infant formulas are increasingly popular, but data regarding their effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes during early childhood is scanty.Objective: This study investigated the effect of consuming soy-based infant formula at 9-12 mo after birth on the subsequent development of epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, and developmental status.Methods: This nationwide retrospective administrative study used health screening examinations and linked insurance claims data of children born in Korea during 2008 and 2009. Infants who received soy formula were compared with those who received cow's milk formula using propensity score matching that considered birth history, economic status, clinical conditions, and drug prescription records. Exposure was defined as soy formula feeding determined from questionnaires completed by the parents when children were 9-12 mo old. Outcomes were epilepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and developmental status. Children were followed until 31 December, 2017.Results: A total of 153,841 eligible participants were enrolled; 11,535 (7.5%) children received soy formula, while 142,864 (92.5%) received cow's milk formula. The incidence rate of epilepsy during the follow-up period was 29.8 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 19.48, 41.65) in the soy formula group and 22.6 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 31.97, 59.07) in the cow's milk formula group, with no significant difference (aHR: 1.318; 95% CI: 0.825, 2.106). The 2 groups also had no difference based on prespecified analysis using different definitions of epilepsy. Likewise, no significant associations of soy formula with ADHD (aHR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.60) or ASD (aHR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.54, 1.83), or delays of developmental stages were observed.Conclusions: Feeding with soy formula rather than cow's milk formula had no apparent association with increased risks of epilepsy, ADHD, ASD, and developmental status, according to this cohort composed of a general pediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study investigated the long-term incidence and risk of postoperative complications following spinal fusion. This study included 640,366 participants from a National Health Examination cohort in the Republic of Korea. Among them, 11,699 individuals underwent spinal fusion, and 56,667 individuals who underwent non-fusion spinal procedures served as controls. Propensity score matching was used to account for patient characteristics including demographic factors, comorbidities, and other relevant variables. The participants were followed for 8 years to assess the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), hemorrhagic infarction (HA), ischemic infarction (II), occlusion and stenosis, and ischemic heart disease (IHD). The incidence rates of CVD and IHD were found to be 27.58 and 31.45 per 1,000 person-years in the spinal fusion group compared to 18.68 and 25.73 per 1,000 person-years in the control group (p <.001), respectively. Patients who underwent spinal fusion had a higher risk of CVD, HA, and IHD than those in the control group (all p <.001). In the subgroup analysis, thoracolumbar and noncervical spinal fusion were associated with a higher risk of CVD, II, and IHD (all p <.005). Patients undergoing thoracolumbar fusion may have an increased association with CVD, II in cerebral arteries, and IHD. This suggests a need for careful consideration of vascular risks in such patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylene blue (MB) is a blue cationic thiazine dye and currently used in different medical settings. Notably, there have been several attempts to introduce MB for attenuating pain in the last decade. Some clinical studies reported remarkable results, which, however, have been much debated. In addition, accumulating evidence have revealed that MB diminishes voltage-gated sodium channel currents. Accordingly, in the present study, we conducted in vivo experiments, including in vivo single nerve recording and behavioral test, to investigate whether MB dampens neural firing rates and ultimately contributes to pain relief. As a result, neural firing rates significantly decreased and finally converged to zero after MB administration. This event lasted longer than that of lidocaine and was dose-dependently modulated. Furthermore, there was a marked improvement in pain behaviors. The withdrawal threshold and latency of hind paws significantly rose post-MB administration. Therefore, these results demonstrate that MB lessens pain by significantly weakening neural excitability, which implies a strong possibility that this dye may be developed as a pain-relieving medication in the future. This is the first in vivo study to elucidate the effect of MB on nerves and pain relief. • Methylene blue, a dye, attenuated significantly neural firing rates compared to lidocaine. • The dye also markedly delayed hind paw withdrawal reflexes elicited by mechanical and thermal stimuli. • Methylene blue lessens pain by dampening neural excitability. • Methylene blue may be developed as a therapeutic agent for pain patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between dyslipidemia and atopic dermatitis in children is unclear. This study investigated the association between dyslipidemia and atopic dermatitis in children by analysis of disease onset, risk factors, and disease severity. Methods: Subset I examined 7‐year‐old children in elementary school (n = 248), and Subset II was a retrospective long‐term follow‐up hospital‐based study (n = 52 725) conducted from 1986 to 2016 that used propensity score matching. In the Subset I study, total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and triglycerides (TG) were determined, and the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index was determined. In the Subset II study, the time of atopic dermatitis onset was determined for asymptomatic subjects whose TC levels were below or above 170 mg/dL. Results: Our Subset I study indicated that children with atopic dermatitis (n = 69, 27.8%) had significantly higher levels of TC and TG, and that the SCORAD index had significant associations with high levels of TC and TG, and a low level of HDL‐C. Our Subset II study (1722 with high TC and 6735 with normal TC after propensity score matching) indicated the high TC group had a greater hazard ratio (HR) for the onset of atopic dermatitis (consensus‐based HR: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.23, 5.06, P =.012) during 5 years. Conclusion: An abnormal blood lipid profile in children is associated with the presence of atopic dermatitis and the SCORAD index. The risk of atopic dermatitis onset was significantly greater with high levels of TC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) was increased in adults with atopic dermatitis (AD). • T2D can be related to AD's chronic systemic low-grade inflammation. • A shared genetic background and an unhealthy lifestyle may also contribute to T2D. • The findings emphasize the importance of diabetes screening in adults with AD. This study aimed to investigate the subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in adults newly diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD). This propensity score-matching cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort (NHIS–NSC) 2.0 database in South Korea from 2002 to 2015. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model, for the new onset of T2D (ICD-10 code, E11) in AD patients compared to the matched controls. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Each of the 36,692 individuals in the AD group and matched control group was included in the analysis. The risk of T2D in the AD group was significantly higher than that of the matched controls in the adjusted model (adjusted HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.27–1.63, P <.001). The results of subgroup analysis by sex, age, and body mass index were consistent with the results of the primary analysis. Sensitivity analyses using different T2D and/or AD definitions also showed consistent results. The significant risk of subsequent T2D in adult AD patients suggested the necessity for efforts to prevent T2D in AD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Bayesian information gain (BIG) framework-based information exploration studies have generally focused on explicit interactions, such as user browsing via keyboard and mouse. However, if implicit information, such as eye-gaze data, is implemented in the BIG framework alongside explicit interactions, the system can accurately respond and proactively provide target information to the user. We, therefore, propose the BIGaze system, which uses real-time eye-gaze data to predict and recommend target information by analyzing the browsing and gazing action patterns corresponding to information searched by the user. To validate the performance of the proposed system within the information exploration process, we performed comparative user experiments with BIGaze, BIGbase (a BIG system without gaze data), and a non-BIG system. The experimental results reveal that BIGaze proactively captures user exploration targets, confidently generates user-intended recommendations, and assists a wide range of user exploration patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: allergic rhinitis; asthma; humidifier disinfectant; lung function; nasal patency; olfactory sensitivity EN allergic rhinitis asthma humidifier disinfectant lung function nasal patency olfactory sensitivity 578 582 5 07/17/20 20200701 NES 200701 Abbreviations aHR adjusted hazard ratio aOR adjusted odds ratio AR allergic rhinitis CI confidence interval FeNO fraction of exhaled nitric oxide HD humidifier disinfectant PSKC Panel Study of Korean Children Rrs5 resistance at 5 Hz SAP2017 Seongnam Atopy Project 2017 Koreans continue to experience inhalation hazards caused by humidifier disinfectant (HD)-related respiratory complications because the Korean government does not have an integrated administrative system for identification of xenobiotics, especially for products used in household.1,2 Research indicates that approximately 30% of Korean children were exposed to a HD from 1994 to 2011 and HD products were only sold in Korea market before withdrawal of these products from Korea market in 2011.3 Many researchers have examined the relationship of exposure to HDs with lung injury,4,5 although there is insufficient evidence supporting a relationship between exposure to HD and childhood asthma,1 asthma-related parameters (oscillometric lung function6 and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO]), allergic rhinitis (AR), and AR-related parameters (nasal airway volume and olfactory threshold). Compared with no exposure to HD, any exposure to HD was associated with an increased overall risk of asthma (aHR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.80) and AR (aHR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.44). To our knowledge, this is the first study to use two independent general population-based studies of children to identify relationships of the duration of HD exposure with asthma, AR, and airway-related parameters. Allergic rhinitis, asthma, humidifier disinfectant, lung function, nasal patency, olfactory sensitivity. [Extracted from the article]

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) occurs frequently in a deep intraparenchymal location. It rarely occurs in the meninges, and bone invasion is uncommon. A 12-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital with a history of headache and seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 4-cm-sized dural-based mass with osteolytic bone change. Craniotomy and tumor removal were performed. Operative findings showed a dural-based hard tumor, including necrosis and hemorrhage, and the skull was focally destroyed by tumor cells. The tumor was completely removed. Pathologically, large atypical cells with pleomorphic nuclei and frequent mitoses were found. The tumor cells were immune-positive for CD30, epithelial cell antigen, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase. The final diagnosis was anaplastic lymphoma kinase–positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). There was no evidence of systemic cancer. The boy underwent chemotherapy following the Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster protocol. There was no recurrence after a 16-month chemotherapy-off period. ALCL is not a common type of PCNSL, and central nervous system ALCL frequently involves the dura and meninges compared with PCNSL in general. However, osteolytic bone lesions are rarely seen in ALCL. This case thus represents a rare case of dural-based ALCL with bone invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The structural and electrical properties of Al-doped HfZrO 2 films were investigated. • The dielectric constant of HfZrO 2 films were increased to ∼47 by Al doping (∼2.5%). • The polarization phase was modified from ferroelectric to paraelectric by Al doping. • Al-doped HfZrO2 films can be promising candidates for use as paraelectric high-k dielectrics. The electrical properties of Hf- and Zr-based oxide thin films, which are related to their crystal structure, are sensitively dependent on their composition and process conditions. In particular, HfZrO 2 mixed thin films, which have potential applicability as high-k dielectrics, can have various polarization phases, including paraelectric, ferroelectric, and anti-ferroelectric phases. Therefore, we investigated the enhancement of the dielectric properties of HfZrO 2 thin films upon Al doping by confirming their polarization characteristics. Doping of the HfZrO 2 thin film with a small amount of Al (∼2.5%) caused a remarkable increase in the dielectric constant to ∼47 and modified the polarization phase from ferroelectric to paraelectric, and the doped film subsequently showed an excellent leakage current of about 2 × 10−8 A/cm2 at ± 1 MV/cm. On the basis of these findings, we believe that Al-doped HfZrO 2 films are promising candidates for use as paraelectric high-k dielectrics for dynamic random access memory capacitors, as gate dielectrics for high-speed transistors, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary evidence suggests a possible higher incidence of diagnosis of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) among patients with a history of COVID-19, but whether this association is specific to SARS-CoV-2 infection is unclear. This study compared the risk for AIRD in patients with a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection versus those with recent influenza infection and those with no infection. Visual Abstract. Long-Term Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Outcomes of COVID-19: Preliminary evidence suggests a possible higher incidence of diagnosis of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) among patients with a history of COVID-19, but whether this association is specific to SARS-CoV-2 infection is unclear. This study compared the risk for AIRD in patients with a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection versus those with recent influenza infection and those with no infection. Background: Some data suggest a higher incidence of diagnosis of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) among patients with a history of COVID-19 compared with uninfected patients. However, these studies had methodological shortcomings. Objective: To investigate the effect of COVID-19 on long-term risk for incident AIRD over various follow-up periods. Design: Binational, longitudinal, propensity-matched cohort study. Setting: Nationwide claims-based databases in South Korea (K-COV-N cohort) and Japan (JMDC cohort). Participants: 10 027 506 Korean and 12 218 680 Japanese patients aged 20 years or older, including those with COVID-19 between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, matched to patients with influenza infection and to uninfected control patients. Measurements: The primary outcome was onset of AIRD (per appropriate codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision) 1, 6, and 12 months after COVID-19 or influenza infection or the respective matched index date of uninfected control patients. Results: Between 2020 and 2021, among the 10 027 506 Korean participants (mean age, 48.4 years [SD, 13.4]; 50.1% men), 394 274 (3.9%) and 98 596 (0.98%) had a history of COVID-19 or influenza, respectively. After propensity score matching, beyond the first 30 days after infection, patients with COVID-19 were at increased risk for incident AIRD compared with uninfected patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.18 to 1.31]) and influenza-infected control patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.30 [CI, 1.02 to 1.59]). The risk for incident AIRD was higher with more severe acute COVID-19. Similar patterns were observed in the Japanese cohort. Limitations: Referral bias due to the pandemic; residual confounding. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with increased risk for incident AIRD compared with matched patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection or with influenza infection. The risk for incident AIRD was higher with greater severity of acute COVID-19. Primary Funding Source: National Research Foundation of Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of steel fiber geometrical properties on the interfacial bond and tensile behavior of ultra-high-performance alkali activated concrete (UHP-AAC). Two types of steel fibers, straight and hooked-end, with aspect ratios of 65, 97.5, and 125 were examined. Results showed that the hooked-end steel fiber exhibited the highest average and equivalent bond strengths in the UHP-AAC matrix, measuring 15.13 and 11.46 MPa, respectively, which were approximately 66% and 94% higher than those of straight steel fibers in the same matrix and bonding area. The best tensile performance of UHP-AAC was achieved using straight steel fibers with an aspect ratio of 97.5, demonstrating the highest tensile strength and strain energy density of 12.28 MPa and 55.24 kJ/m3, respectively, and the second highest strain capacity of 0.533%. Straight steel fibers were more effective in increasing the tensile strength of UHP-AAC than hooked-end steel fibers with the same aspect ratio. Higher fiber aspect ratios resulted in larger microcrack widths, with the straightened end-hooks acting on the crack plane to transmit tensile force more effectively, contributing to increased microcrack width and deformability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Peripheral group III mGluRs recover pain-like behaviors in the CFA-inflamed rats. • Peripheral group III mGluRs alleviate neuronal firing rates at the CFA-inflamed knee joint. • Inhibitory pain modulation mediated by peripheral group III mGluRs is observed only in inflammation. Abstract Peripheral group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) function to modulate pain signaling in inflammatory states. Here, we established in vivo experimental settings, including dynamic weight bearing test and in vivo single nerve recording, to elucidate how the group III mGluRs contribute to inhibiting pain transmission at the peripheral sensory nerve terminal in inflammatory states (1 and 3 days) elicited by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). As a result, CFA-induced nociceptive behaviors were significantly alleviated after administration of 100 and 200 μM L-AP4 (l-2-amino-4-phosphonobutylate; group III mGluR agonist). In addition, neuronal discharges evoked by 6- and 26-g von Frey filaments at the nerve significantly decreased after administration of 200 μM L-AP4. However, this event was not observed in non-inflammatory state. These results suggest that the group III mGluRs negatively regulate nociceptive behavior and pain transmission by lessening neuronal firing rates at the peripheral nerve in inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we demonstrated a reliable switching effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) field-effect transistor (FET) devices integrated with 99% semiconducting CNT as a channel and high-k oxide as the dielectric. CNT FET devices with high-k oxides of Al-ZrHfO2 and Al2O3 were electrically characterized and compared. There was no considerable hysteresis in the Al2O3-based CNT FET device. The Al-ZrHfO2 with a tetragonal phase-based high dielectric constant (~47), designed by an atomic layer deposition process, showed a reliable switching effect as well as low operation voltage (<±3 V). Charge trapping/detrapping process via oxygen vacancy-related defects of Al-ZrHfO2 was proposed as a primary mechanism to explain a current change of a counterclockwise direction and threshold voltage (Vth) shift for transfer properties. The suggested charge trapping model within bulk oxide was experimentally proven since the hysteresis from the adsorption/desorption of gas molecules to CNT surface was negligible. Endurance characteristics of the CNT switching devices remained stable without any serious current fluctuation during a repetitive cycling test. The memory device with reliable switching properties as well as low operation power would pave a road toward next-generation memory components of portable electronic gadgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli (E.coli) infection has been proposed to play an important role as an initial trigger in the development of autoimmunity via molecular mimicry. However, there has been no preliminary cohort study to establish the association of E.coli infection with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, we conducted a large scale, population-matched cohort study to determine the risk of autoimmune disease among patients with exposure to E.coli. Utilizing the National Health Insurance Service database, we retrospectively analyzed a total of 259,875 Korean children that consisted of 23,625 exposed and 236,250 unexposed persons from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2017. The exposed cohort was defined as patients diagnosed with E.coli infection. Unexposed controls were matched by birth year and sex at a 1:10 ratio for each exposed patient, using incidence density sampling. The primary outcome was autoimmune disease development. We used the Cox model to estimate the risks of autoimmune diseases among patients diagnosed with E.coli infection. Over a mean follow-up of 10 years, there were 1455 autoimmune disease cases among exposed patients (incidence rate, 63.6 per 10,000 person-years) and 11,646 autoimmune disease cases among unexposed persons (incidence rate, 50.4 per 10,000 person-years), with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.254 (95% CI 1.187–1.325). E.coli infection was associated with increased risks of autoimmune diseases; Reactive arthritis, HR 1.487, 95% CI 1.131–1.956; Henoch Schönlein purpura, HR 1.265, 95% CI 1.050–1.524; Systemic lupus erythematosus, HR 1.838, 95% CI 1.165–2.898; Sjögren's syndrome, HR 2.002, 95% CI 1.342–2.987; IgA nephropathy, HR 1.613, 95% CI 1.388–1.874. Kaplan-Meier cumulative incidence curves also showed a significant association between E.coli infection and incident autoimmune disease (p < 0.0001). This relationship was not only independent of demographic variables, but also remained consistent across various sensitivity analyses. On the other hand, patients with longer hospital stay for E.coli infection were at a higher risk of autoimmune disease (p = 0.0003), and the risk of autoimmune disease also tended to increase, as the frequency of E.coli infection was higher. Moreover, the relative risk of autoimmune disease seemed to be attenuated by use of antibiotics and a history of intestinal infectious disease, but elevated by coexistence of other autoimmune diseases. Our cohort study indicates that E.coli infection was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, even after adjusting for different factors. Thus, among environmental factors, a previous history of E.coli infection could be a predisposing risk factor in the development of autoimmune diseases. • E.coli infection is significantly associated with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. • As the severity or frequency of E.coli infection is higher, the risk of autoimmune disease among patients with E.coli infection tends to increase. • The risk of autoimmune disease among patients with E.coli infection is reinforced by coexistence of other autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel viruses, isolated in Bonghwa, Republic of Korea, from an Ixeridium dentatum plant with yellowing mottle symptoms, have been provisionally named Ixeridium yellow mottle-associated virus 1 (IxYMaV-1) and Ixeridium yellow mottle-associated virus 2 (IxYMaV-2). IxYMaV-1 has a genome of 6,017 nucleotides sharing a 56.4% sequence identity with that of cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (genus Polerovirus). The IxYMaV-2 genome of 4,196 nucleotides has a sequence identity of less than 48.3% with e other species classified within the genus Umbravirus. Genome properties and phylogenetic analysis suggested that IxYMaV-1 and -2 are representative isolates of new species classifiable within the genus Polerovirus and Umbravirus, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relationship between vitamin D status and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentration, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, in the Korean elderly population.Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 269 men and 382 women (mean age, 71.6 years) enrolled in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP), a population-based longitudinal study of health determinants in elderly Koreans. We stratified patients by vitamin D status into three groups according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level: sufficient (≥30ng/mL, n=25), insufficient (10-<30ng/mL, n=516), and deficient (<10ng/mL, n=110). To measure endothelial dysfunction, ADMA concentration was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The association between 25(OH)D status and ADMA concentration was analyzed by multiple linear regression models.Results: The mean ADMA concentration was significantly higher in the insufficient 25(OH)D group (0.665μmol/L, p=0.001) and the deficient 25(OH)D group (0.734μmol/L, p<0.001) compared with the sufficient 25(OH)D group (0.589μmol/L). Even after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, total and HDL cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), smoking status, and drinking status, ADMA concentrations were higher in the insufficient group (β=0.0742μmol/L, p=0.001) and the deficient group (β=0.1417μmol/L, p<0.001) compared than in the sufficient group. In a sex-stratified analysis, 25(OH)D deficiency was associated with higher ADMA levels in both women (p<0.001) and men (p=0.007), while 25(OH)D deficiency was associated with higher ADMA levels in women (p<0.001) but not in men (p=0.631).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that low serum 25(OH)D level may be associated with endothelial dysfunction in elderly Korean people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We examined whether glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is associated to carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly Korean population with normal fasting glucose. Methods: Using data from the Korean Urban Rural Elderly study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,133 participants (335 men and 798 women) with a mean age of 71.8 years. All participants had fasting blood glucose less than 100mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) and HbA1c level below 6.5% (48 mmol/mol). They were also free from a history of cardiovascular disease, known type 2 diabetes mellitus or use of anti-diabetes medications. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by intima-media thickness (IMT) using ultrasonography. The association between HbA1c and carotid IMT was investigated using multivariable linear regression analysis. Results: HbA1c levels were independently and positively associated with carotid IMT (β = 0.020, p = 0.045) after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, smoking and alcohol intake. However, fasting insulin and glucose levels were not associated with carotid IMT. Conclusion: HbA1c levels were positively associated with carotid atherosclerosis, as assessed by carotid IMT, in an elderly population with normoglycemia. Our study suggested that higher HbA1c level is an effective and informative marker of carotid atherosclerosis in an elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A spatial designer's search goal is sequentially updated during the spatial design exploration process. The design exploration process requires a proactive process that supports better-informed design decisions and refreshes the search direction to avoid being fixed; however, no study has been conducted to date. This paper describes a framework called CreativeSearch, which provides three types of guidance feedback by analyzing a spatial designer's design process. Particularly, by integrating the Bayesian Information Gain (BIG) framework and information entropy theory, CreativeSearch provides three types of guidance feedback. A user study conducted with 20 spatial designers confirmed that CreativeSearch supported them in exploring creative design ideas by lowering their mental load. Furthermore, CreativeSearch made designers proactive and supported their design decisions. The guidance feedback framework described in this paper is expected to extend the research on proactive and creative design exploration processes. • A new web-based spatial design exploration support system with the guidance feedback is proposed. • Three types of guidance feedback based on information theories are created. • The feedback is provided for suggesting a search direction and novel design ideas and lowering the user's mental load. • It helps spatial designers proactively explore creative design ideas and make better-informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The EOT scalability of Zr-rich ZrHfO 2 thin films was investigated. • Leakage current was noticeably reduced by Al-doping without dielectric degradation. • As increasing Al-doping, the remanent polarization significantly decreased. • The EOT value was successfully reduced from 0.65 nm to 0.53 nm by Al-doping. With ultra-miniaturization of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), it is very important to achieve equivalent-oxide-thickness (EOT) scaling of capacitors using materials applied to mass production. Compared to ZrO 2 , Zr 1-x Hf x O 2 has a high possibility of improved electrical properties by doping in wide composition ranges. Therefore, we investigated the effect of Al-doping on electrical properties of Zr-rich Zr 1-x Hf x O 2 thin films. Up to Al-doping of 2.1%, the leakage current was significantly improved without degradation of the dielectric constant, and it was possible to reduce the EOT by 0.12 nm in the leakage current specification applicable to DRAM capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to alleviate nonpoint source (NPS) pollution contributing to the degradation of water quality in aquatic environments have increased over the last several decades. In this research, dimensionless time ( τ DL ) and particle size bins were applied as indicators to optimize the management timing for NPS pollutants. Field experiments that included four single storm events and two multiple storm events were conducted in order to measure the flow and to collect water samples for the analysis of particle size bins at each monitoring site. Particle bins for all samples were measured using an LS230 laser diffraction particle size analyzer. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was carried out to statistically identify the importance of τ DL . By considering the particle size bins of NPS pollutants during a single stormwater runoff event, these results showed that τ DL3 which is triple time of τ DL1 after τ DL0 optimized the flow management timing. ANOVA and post hoc tests further confirmed that τ DL3 can be viewed as an equivalent time for the end of particle discharge during a single storm event. In practical terms, this study thus suggests that the volume of first-flushed stormwater captured prior to τ DL3 is an important criterion for best management practices. It is also expected that the methodology proposed in this research using particle bins and τ DL3 can be further extended to different drainage areas and land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress towards genetic sequencing of human parasites has provided the groundwork for a post-genomic approach to develop novel antigens for the diagnosis and treatment of parasite infections. To fully utilize the genomic data, however, high-throughput methodologies are required for functional analysis of the proteins encoded in the genomic sequences. In this study, we investigated cell-free expression and in situ immobilization of parasite proteins as a novel platform for the discovery of antigenic proteins. PCR-amplified parasite DNA was immobilized on microbeads that were also functionalized to capture synthesized proteins. When the microbeads were incubated in a reaction mixture for cell-free synthesis, proteins expressed from the microbead-immobilized DNA were instantly immobilized on the same microbeads, providing a physical linkage between the genetic information and encoded proteins. This approach of in situ expression and isolation enables streamlined recovery and analysis of cell-free synthesized proteins and also allows facile identification of the genes coding antigenic proteins through direct PCR of the microbead-bound DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptomyces peucetius ATCC27952 contains the cytochrome P450 monoxygenase DoxA that is responsible for the hydroxylation of daunorubicin into doxorubicin. Although S. peucetius ATCC27952 contains several potential redox partners, the most suitable endogenous electron-transport system is still unclear; therefore, we conducted a study of potential redox partners using Accelrys Discovery Studio 3.5. Recombinant DoxA along with its redox partners from S. peucetius FDX1, FDR2, and FDX3, and the putidaredoxin and putidaredoxin reductase from Pseudomonas putida that are essential equivalents of the class I type of bacterial electron-transport system were over-expressed and purified. The successful development of an efficient redox system was achieved by an in vitro enzymatic catalysis reaction with DoxA. The optimal pH for the activation of the heme was 7.6 and the optimal temperature was 30 °C. Our findings suggest a two-fold increase of DoxA activity via the NADH → FDR2 → FDX1 → DoxA pathway for the hydroxylation of the daunorubicin, and indicate that the usage of a native redox partner may increase daunorubicin-derived doxorubicin production due to the inclusion of DoxA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on allergic diseases in adolescents is not well described. The prevalence of allergic diseases was stratified against covariates such as age, sex, BMI, residence area, smoking status, alcohol consumption, parents' educational level, economic level, and school performance. [Extracted from the article]

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are capable of self-renewal and can differentiate into neurons and two types of glial cells. NSCs have great potential for basic studies of neurogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases, and for therapeutic transplantation applications. NSCs can be derived from the fetal or adult brain.In vitroexpansion of NSCs may help to elucidate their properties involved in neurogenesis and is crucial to obtain on-demand the large numbers of these cells needed for clinical transplantation trials. Laminin is an extracellular matrix molecule commonly used to culture NSCs as an attached monolayer. However, laminin is costly if NSCs need to be cultured in large quantities. Matrigel is a soluble basement membrane biomaterial, which has been widely used for feeder-free cultures of human embryonic stem cells. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of Matrigel to support the attachment and long-term proliferation of NSCs. We investigated the growth and adherence of NSCs derived from the fetal mouse brain on Matrigel at various concentrations (0.01–1%). We found that 0.02% Matrigel is sufficient for NSCs to be expandedin vitroin long-term culture. The NSCs cultured on Matrigel-coated plates showed typical cellular and molecular characteristics and had multipotency to be differentiated into neurons and glial cells. The Matrigel-based monolayer culture system established in this study provides a cost-effective approach to maintain NSCsin vitroin long-term cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Primary intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) reinnervation techniques demonstrated significant voice improvement at 24 months postoperatively and could be an effective alternative treatment for thyroidectomy-related permanent unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP). Objectives: To assess the long-term efficacy of intraoperative RLN reinnervation techniques in the management of thyroidectomy-related unilateral VFP. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from January 2008 to June 2012 at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital. Nineteen patients who underwent RLN reinnervation with either direct reinnervation (neurorrhaphy) or ansa cervicalis to RLN (ansa-RLN) anastomosis and completed subjective and objective voice measurement over a 1-year follow-up period were included in this study. Results: The causes of VFP were cancer involving the RLN (68.4%, 13/19) and iatrogenic nerve transection (31.5%, 6/19). Reinnervation techniques were direct neurorrhaphy (63.2%, 12/19) and ansa-RLN anastomosis (36.8%, 7/19). Subjective parameters such as the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), posterior glottic closure, and mucosal wave demonstrated significant improvement 6 months postoperatively, and the majority of parameters remained stable up to 24 months ( p < 0.05). Objective parameters, such as maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, and the harmonics-to-noise ration (HNR), demonstrated significant improvement at 12 months and most remained stable at 24 months ( p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Increasing evidence supports the importance of maintaining skeletal muscle mass for cardiovascular health. However, there is limited data on the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and arterial stiffness targeting an elderly population. Thus, we investigated the association between skeletal muscle mass and arterial stiffness in an elderly Korean population. This study used data from the Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project which started in 2011. In this cross-sectional study, 180 men (mean age 71.7) and 247 women (mean age 70.9) were included. Arm and leg muscle masses were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Radial augmentation index, a noninvasive measure of arterial stiffness, was assessed by radial pulse wave analysis. The relationship between skeletal muscle mass and augmentation index was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. In men, limb muscle mass was significantly and inversely associated with augmentation index (β =−1.07% per 1kg muscle mass, p <0.001) when adjusted for age. This inverse association remained after additional adjustment for body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting glucose, insulin, smoking and alcohol intake (β =−0.69%, p =0.019). In women, the inverse association between limb muscle mass and augmentation index was less prominent (β =−0.59%, p =0.030), and the association disappeared when fully adjusted (β =−0.32%, p =0.304). However, limb muscle mass was not associated with resting blood pressure either in men or women. Our results suggest that decreased skeletal muscle mass may affect arterial wall elasticity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: There is a lack of longitudinal studies of associations between growth from infancy to childhood and asthma development. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of weight change during infancy, body mass index (BMI) and the interaction of these factors on the risk of childhood asthma. Methods: We enrolled children born in 2008 and 2009 at full‐term and with normal birth weight. The weight change in infancy was grouped into slow, on‐track and rapid. BMI status in childhood was stratified into low, normal and high groups and used as a time‐varying variable. The outcome was asthma, defined as two or more diagnoses of asthma separated by at least 1 year after 2 years of age. The risk of asthma was assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression, with adjustment for sex, residence area at birth, economic status and feeding types in infancy. Results: Of 917,707 children born in Korea in 2008 and 2009, 271,871 were eligible for analysis. The risk of asthma was greater in groups with low birth weight (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.08), rapid body weight change during early infancy (aHR 1.08, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.10) and high BMI during childhood (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.08). The interaction of weight change during early infancy with BMI during childhood was significant for asthma (p <.01). Rapid weight gain in infancy was associated with lower risk of asthma in those with low BMI during childhood; had no association with asthma in those with normal BMI during childhood; and was associated increased asthma risk in those with high BMI during childhood—aHR 1.26 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.33) and aHR 1.33 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.56) compared with on‐track and slow infant weight gain, respectively. Conclusion: Low birth weight, high BMI during childhood and, in those with high childhood BMI, rapid weight gain during early infancy are associated with increased risk of childhood asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and objectives: There is a need for brief effective treatment of social phobia and Imagery Rescripting (IR) is a potential candidate. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of IR preceded by cognitive restructuring as a stand-alone brief treatment using a randomized controlled design. Methods: Twenty-three individuals with social phobia were randomly assigned to an IR group or to a control group. Participants in the IR group were provided with one session of imagery interviewing and two sessions of cognitive restructuring and Imagery Rescripting. Those in the control group had one session of clinical interviewing and two sessions of supportive therapy. Outcome measures including the Korean version of the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (K-SADS) were administered before and after treatment, and at three-month follow-up. The short version of the Questionnaire upon Mental Imagery and the Traumatic Experience Scale were also administered before treatment. Results: Participants in the IR group improved significantly on K-SADS and other outcome measures, compared to the control group. The beneficial effects of IR were maintained at three-month follow-up. It was also found that mental imagery ability and the severity of the traumatic experience did not moderate the outcome of IR. Limitations: Further studies are needed to replicate the findings of our study using a large sample. Conclusions: The efficacy of IR as a stand-alone brief treatment was demonstrated for social phobia. The findings indicate that IR could be utilized as a cost-effective intervention for social phobia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the repeated passive movement (RPM) and repeated active movement (RAM) exercise on position sense of the knee joint in patients with hemiplegia. METHODS: 45 hemiplegia patients were randomly allocated to either the control group(no exercise), RPM group, or RAM group, with 15 subjects in each group. The exercise was repeated 60 times on the angle 10 to 100 degrees of the knee joint with an angle speed of 120°/s, with three sets for 15 minutes. Evaluation was performed using Passive Angle Repositioning (PAR) and Active Angle Repositioning (AAR). RESULTS: Error of positioning sense showed a decrease in PAR and AAR in the RPM group (p < 0.01) and an increase in AAR was observed in the RAM group (p < 0.05). In comparison of knee joint position sense error value and rate of change among the three groups, the RPM group is decreased mostly in PAR and AAR (p < 0.01), and Error value (p < 0.05) and rate of change (p < 0.01) of the RAM group showed a greater increase in AAR than the control group. CONCLUSION: RAM exercise can support an increase in proprioception on the knee joint of hemiplegia; however, RAM exercise that causes fatigue can decrease proprioception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, the flow boiling critical heat flux (CHF) using graphene oxide (GO)/water nanofluid was investigated under low pressure and low flow conditions. The 0.01vol.% GO/water nanofluid is prepared for CHF enhancement test because recently, there are a lot of interests about graphene as an exceptional heat conduction material for thermal management and GO nanoparticles are more dispersed in water than graphene nanoparticles in terms of hydrophilicity. All experiments were carried out for round tubes with 1/2in. diameter and 0.5m heating length under low pressure and low flow (LPLF) at two fixed inlet temperatures (25 and 50°C) and at four different mass fluxes (100, 150, 200 and 250kg/m2 s). It was found that the CHF of the GO/water nanofluid was more enhanced up to ∼100% than the CHF of water as a base fluid. The causes of CHF enhancement were investigated through macroscopic observations, SEM observations and measurement of contact angles of the heated surfaces with depositions. Liquid film thickness affected by evaporation, entrainment and deposition mass transfer can be closely linked with wettability and GO properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Following the March 2011 earthquake, the nuclear power plants in Japan were affected, and emergency systems were activated. The earthquake caused a tsunami, which hit the east coast of Japan, and caused a loss of all on-site and off-site power at the Fukushima Daiichi, leaving it without any emergency power. In this situation, freshwater and seawater were used by helicopter, fire truck, and concrete pump truck to remove heat. To investigate the effect of 35‰ sea salt solution on reflood heat transfer in a long vertical tube (1600mm in the heating length), quenching experiments were conducted. We have observed a more enhanced cooling performance in the case of the sea salt solution reflood. Consequently, the cooling performance is enhanced more than nearly 10s for sea salt solution. The enhancing cause of the cooling performance after the quenching experiments using the sea salt solution were investigated through the macroscopic observation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angles and SEM-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) of the inner surface of the test section. The cause of the cooling performance enhancement for the sea salt solution is not related to the enhanced wettability of the liquid film on the heater surface due to the deposition of sea salts but the top quenching by earlier condensation of vapor during sea salt solution reflood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The fuel rod performance of enhanced thermal conductivity on UO2/graphene composites and SiC cladding was investigated through a LBLOCA (Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident) analysis using the MARS-KS (Multi-dimensional Analysis of Reactor Safety-Korean Standard). The benefits increased monotonically with increasing thermal conductivity in terms of reduced radial fuel rod temperature and PCT (Peak Cladding Temperature). The performance of the UO2/graphene composite fuel and SiC cladding was assessed in an OPR-1000 (Optimized Power Reactor-1000) during a LBLOCA. The UO2/graphene composite fuel is to increase the power density and maximum allowable fuel burnup. Graphene can be a promising material for developing advanced nuclear fuel, because of its properties of high thermal conductivity and low absorption cross section. SiC cladding material has been proposed as the replacement for the traditional Zircaloy4 and Zirlo, as SiC has excellent resistance to the high-temperature and high-radiation environment. The results confirmed the LBLOCA performance related to PCT of the UO2/graphene composite fuel and SiC cladding, while maintaining safety margins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: External reactor vessel cooling (ERVC) for in-vessel retention (IVR) of corium as a key severe accident management strategy can be achieved by flooding the reactor cavity during a severe accident. In this accident mitigation strategy, the decay heat removal capability depends on whether the imposed heat flux exceeds critical heat flux (CHF). To provide sufficient cooling for high-power reactors such as APR1400, there have been some R&D efforts to use the reactor vessel with micro-porous coating and nanofluids boiling-induced coating. In present study, an experimental study has been conducted to investigate the viability of using graphene-oxide nanofluid under various coolant chemical environments to enhance CHF during ERVC. Pool boiling CHF experiments were carried out for the thin-wire heater with controlling the heater orientation from horizontal to vertical, or at 0< θ <90°. The dispersion stability of graphene-oxide nanofluid in the chemical conditions of flooding water that includes boric acid, lithium hydroxide (LiOH), and tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) was checked in terms of surface charge or zeta potential before the CHF experiments. Finally integral effects of graphene-oxide nanosheets and chemicals on CHF limits were investigated. Results showed that graphene-oxide nanofluids were very stable under ERVC coolant chemical environments and enhanced CHF limits up to about 40% at minimum at 90° of angle (vertical orientation) and about 200% at maximum at 0° of angle (horizontal orientation) in comparison to pure water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, the curiosity is coming from how to bring out the fluidic capability of nanofluids (fluid itself) for critical heat flux (CHF) enhancement away from surface deposition effects such as improved wettability. The pool boiling characteristics of dilute dispersions of alumina and the microencapsulated C19H40 phase change material (MPCM) in R-123 were studied. Whereas other nanofluid studies only reported that a significant enhancement of CHF was achieved by buildup of a porous layer of nanoparticles on the heater surface during nucleate boiling, it was found that the additional CHF enhancement of 24% occurred with the MPCM compared to alumina nanomaterials. With solid–liquid phase changes, PCMs in suspension delay the occurrence of CHF by absorbing heat around from the heater, nucleate bubbles and merged bubbles while PCM shells prevent leakage of molten cores and allows the return to solid with exchanges of heat at some distances. The present study found that PCMs could make fluidic effects of nanofluid not relying on the surface depositions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, CHF characteristics in pool boiling according to CuO nanoparticles deposition characteristics are investigated compared with that of pure water. The deposition characteristics are controlled by using in-house prepared CuO nanofluids in two ways such as one-step method of pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) and two-step method of particles dispersion. Morphology of CuO nanoparticles in shape and size is analyzed by TEM while SEM images are obtained to observe the deposition structures on heated surfaces. Also, contact angle and capillary height for deposition layer on the surfaces after pool boiling experiments are measured to investigate the surface wettability. Rayleigh–Taylor instability wavelength on the surface with respect to a unified CHF enhancement mechanism is measured indirectly by a condensation method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of nanofluids on reflood heat transfer in a hot vertical tube. The nanofluids, which are produced by dispersing nano-sized particles in traditional base fluids such as water, ethylene glycol, and engine oil, are expected to have a reasonable potential to enhance a heat transfer. 0.1 volume fraction (%) Al2O3/water nanofluid was prepared by two-step method and 0.1 volume fraction (%) carbon nano colloid (CNC) was prepared by the process self-dispersing by carboxyl formed particle surface. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images are acquired to characterize the shape and size of Al2O3 and graphite nanoparticles. The dispersion behavior of nanofluids was investigated with zeta potential values. And then, the reflood tests have been performed using water and nanofluids. We have observed a more enhanced cooling performance in the case of the nanofluid reflood. Consequently, the cooling performance is enhanced more than 13s and 20s for Al2O3/water nanofluid and CNC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: After the Fukushima accident, the concerns on nuclear safety are increasing more than ever before. In particular, promising coolants for fast neutron reactors start to become major targets to the nuclear safety issues. Liquid metals such as sodium, sodium–potassium, lead, and lead–bismuth, as well as gallium have been considered as potential coolants in fast reactors. Among them, gallium is in the liquid state even under room temperature, has the lowest melting point (∼30°C) and has no explosive reaction with water. However, liquid gallium has a lower thermal conductivity than other liquid metals such as sodium. If nanoparticles were evenly dispersed in liquid gallium, having the higher conductivity the suspended nanoparticles would be expected to produce a highly thermal-conductive coolant for nuclear applications without any safety concerns. At least, it would be promising to adopt the coolant in a safety system like passive decay heat removal system. The present work investigates the feasibility of using liquid gallium with nanoparticles in nuclear applications examining dispersion methods and some of the requirements of nuclear coolants such as absorption cross section, thermal conductivity and viscosity. The key issue of the original idea is whether a stable dispersion can be achieved with various nanoparticles having high thermal conductivities. In the study, the results show that good dispersion stability can be obtained by controlling shear rates based on centrifugal forces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]