Search

It remains an open question whether second language (L2) learners can process linguistic properties at the syntax–discourse interface. This study examines this issue in the context of the L2 processing of Korean dative sentences under different information structure requirements. Given that discourse constraints associated with information structure tend to manifest more strongly in noncanonical than in canonical structures, we tested whether L2 learners of Korean show sensitivity to such constraints during online processing. In a story-continuation task, both native and nonnative speaker groups showed a strong preference for producing canonical dative patterns, indicating their comparable knowledge of the canonical status of Korean dative sentences. In a self-paced reading task, both groups spent longer reading times when the word order of dative sentences did not follow given–new information structure, but only for the noncanonical and not the canonical structure. These results suggest that L2 processing of dative structures at the syntax–discourse interface relies on the same parsing architecture that guides native-speaker processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions: Previous studies show conflicting findings regarding bilingual processing of target information not instantiated in learners' first language. The current study addresses this issue by investigating whether Chinese speakers can integrate case-marking information, which is unique to Korean, with locative verb information in their processing of the Korean locative constructions. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted an acceptability judgment task to assess Chinese–Korean bilinguals' explicit knowledge of case-marking constraints on Korean locative constructions, and a self-paced reading task to probe their application of the knowledge to real-time sentence processing. Data and analysis: Twenty-four advanced Chinese–Korean bilinguals' acceptability judgments and reading times were compared with those of 24 Korean monolingual speakers, using mixed-effects regression modeling. Findings/conclusions: Results from the offline acceptability judgment task revealed the bilinguals' native-like judgment patterns. Both Korean monolingual and Chinese–Korean bilinguals rejected sentences with wrong case-marking sequences paired with locative verbs. In the self-paced reading task, both monolingual and bilingual speakers showed increased reading times when a mismatch arose between case-marking and locative verb information, indicating their sensitivity to locative agreement violations. Originality: While previous studies have investigated bilinguals' integration of multiple sources of information, this study adds a new perspective to this issue by testing whether bilinguals can use L2-unique information (i.e., case marking) to integrate it with other types of information (i.e., locative verbs) for sentence processing. Significance/implications: Our findings are consistent with the competition model which predicts that L2-unique information presents little processing difficulty for bilinguals. At the same time, the current results lend credence to the idea that increased proficiency allows bilinguals to integrate multiple information sources during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban particulate matter (UPM) is a high-hazard cause of various diseases in humans, including in the respiratory tract, skin, heart, and even brain. Unfortunately, there is no established treatment for the damage caused by UPM in the respiratory epithelium. In addition, although RIPK3 is known to induce necroptosis, its intracellular role as a negative regulator in human lungs and bronchial epithelia remains unclear. Here, the endogenous expression of RIPK3 was significantly decreased 6 h after exposure to UPM. In RIPK3-ovexpressed cells, RIPK3 was not moved to the cytoplasm from the nucleus. Interestingly, the overexpression of RIPK3 dramatically decreased TEER and F-actin formation. Its overexpression also decreased the expression of genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and tight junctions (ZO-1, -2, -3, E-cadherin, and claudin) during UPM-induced airway inflammation. Importantly, overexpression of RIPK3 inhibited the UPM-induced ROS production by inhibiting the activation of iNOS and eNOS and by regulating mitochondrial fission processing. In addition, UPM-induced activation of the iκB and NF-κB signaling pathways was dramatically decreased by RIPK3, and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was decreased by inhibiting the iκB signaling pathway. Our data indicated that RIPK3 is essential for the UPM-induced inflammatory microenvironment to maintain homeostasis. Therefore, we suggest that RIPK3 is a potential therapeutic candidate for UPM-induced pulmonary inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) poses a significant challenge to infection control in healthcare settings. Active screening is recommended to prevent intra-hospital CPE transmission. Methods: CPE screening was initiated at a 660-bed hospital in South Korea in September 2018, targeting patients previously colonized/infected or admitted to outside healthcare facilities (HCFs) within 1 month. Universal intensive care unit (ICU) screening was performed at the time of admission. After a hospital-wide CPE outbreak in July-September 2019, the screening program was enhanced by extending the indications (admission to any HCF within 6 months, receipt of hemodialysis) with weekly screening of ICU patients. The initial screening method was changed from screening cultures to the Xpert Carba-R assay. The impact was assessed by comparing the CPE incidence per 1000 admissions before (phase 1, September 2018-August 2019) and after instituting the enhanced screening program (phase 2, September 2019-December 2020). Results: A total of 13,962 (2,149 and 11,813 in each phase) were screened as indicated, among 49,490 inpatients, and monthly screening compliance increased from 18.3 to 93.5%. Compared to phase 1, the incidence of screening positive patients increased from 1.2 to 2.3 per 1,000 admissions (P = 0.005) during phase 2. The incidence of newly detected CPE patients was similar (3.1 vs. 3.4, P = 0.613) between two phases, but the incidence of hospital-onset CPE patients decreased (1.9 vs. 1.1, P = 0.018). A significant decrease was observed (0.5 to 0.1, P = 0.014) in the incidence of patients who first confirmed CPE positive through clinical cultures without a preceding positive screening. Compared to phase 1, the median exposure duration and number of CPE contacts were also markedly reduced in phase 2: 10.8 days vs. 1 day (P < 0.001) and 11 contacts vs. 1 contact (P < 0.001), respectively. During phase 2, 42 additional patients were identified by extending the admission screening indications (n = 30) and weekly in-ICU screening (n = 12). Conclusions: The enhanced screening program enabled us to identify previously unrecognized CPE patients in a rapid manner and curtailed a hospital-wide CPE outbreak. As CPE prevalence increases, risk factors for CPE colonization can broaden, and hospital prevention strategies should be tailored to the changing local CPE epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undesirable cracking is commonly observed in existing bridge bents with inverted-T bent caps at the web-to-ledge interface. Although the cracking is unexpected, such cracks may decrease service life and are possible signs of structural deficiencies. In this study, concepts of retrofit solutions for improving the performance of such bent caps were developed and experimentally investigated. The solutions were designed to provide supplemental ledge and hanger load paths by attaching additional steel components: a post-tensioning (PT) threadbar with a "catcher" channel or end-region stiffeners. Experimental test results demonstrated the retrofitted inverted-T bent caps remained in a good (operational) condition to levels above the service limit state and had load carrying capacity up to 60% above the specified ultimate load demands. These experimental observations for both as-built and strengthened bent caps were compared to the calculated strength capacities, and the code-based strength capacities were shown to be overconservative. Repair and retrofit design recommendations are provided, including limitations, based on the experimental investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of significant improvements in current therapies, the life expectancy of cancer patients with bone metastases has dramatically improved. Unfortunately, these patients often experience skeletal complications that significantly impair their quality of life. The major skeletal complications associated with bone metastases include: cancer-induced bone pain, hypercalcemia, pathological bone fractures, metastatic epidural spinal cord compression and cancer cachexia. Once cancer cells invade the bone, they perturb the normal physiology of the marrow microenvironment, resulting in bone destruction, which is believed to be a direct cause of skeletal complications. However, full understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these complications remains unknown. In the present review, we discuss the complications associated with bone metastases along with matched conventional therapeutic strategies. A better understanding of this topic is crucial, as targeting skeletal complications can improve both the morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from bone metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is an established surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. However, cIMT may not reflect the whole arterial changes occurring in various pathologic conditions, such as hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether vascular properties of carotid artery (CA) in patients with hypertension differ from those of patients with diabetes and controls before the progression of cIMT. Methods Vascular properties of CA were assessed in 402 consecutive asymptomatic subjects who have normal cIMT (131 with hypertension, 151 with diabetes mellitus, and 120 controls). Conventional carotid stiffness indices calculated from vessel diameter and blood pressure, and parameters from velocity-vector imaging (VVI), including vessel area, fractional area change (FAC), radial velocity, circumferential strain, and strain rate were measured to assess the differences between the groups. Results In univariate analysis, both patients with hypertension and diabetes showed higher elastic modulus, lower distensibility coefficients and FAC of VVI than those of controls. However, when adjusting for baseline covariates, only FAC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70–0.97, p = 0.025) and vessel area (OR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.64–4.91, p < 0.001) discriminated CA of patients with hypertension from those of controls. Also, patients with hypertension showed larger vessel area than diabetes (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.75–3.80, p < 0.001) independent of baseline covariates. No significant vascular parameter was found to discriminate patients with diabetes from controls after adjustments. Conclusion Despite normal cIMT, the CA of hypertensive patients was stiffer than those of controls and positive remodeling preceded the wall thickening independent of baseline covariates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli has become an important cause of community-onset urinary tract infections. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of non-carbapenem antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis (APN) due to ESBL-producing E. coli. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with community-onset APN due to ESBL-producing E. coli at a single centre in Korea from 2007 to 2013. Outcomes included both microbiological and clinical failure. To adjust for non-random assignment of antibiotics, the propensity score method of inverse probability of treatment weighting and a multivariable analysis using Cox proportional hazards modelling were employed to estimate the efficacy of non-carbapenem antibiotics as compared with carbapenems. Results Of 152 eligible patients, 85 (55.9%) received carbapenems and 67 (44.1%) received non-carbapenems. Non-carbapenem antibiotics used in this cohort included aminoglycosides (n = 30), β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (n = 13), fluoroquinolones (n = 12) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (n = 5). Microbiological failure was observed in 16 patients receiving carbapenems (16/83, 19.3%) versus 4 patients receiving non-carbapenem (4/67, 6.0%). After weighting, the risk of microbiological failure was similar between the two groups [weighted hazard ratio (HR) 0.99; 95% CI 0.31–3.19]. In a multivariable regression analysis combined with weights, the estimate did not change (weighted adjusted HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.41–2.27). The clinical failure rate was also similar in the two groups (weighted HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.24–4.62). Conclusions These results suggest that non-carbapenem antibiotics were as effective as carbapenems as definitive therapy for treating community-onset APN caused by ESBL-producing E. coli if they are active in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives The optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated Gram-negative bacteraemia remains undefined. Our objective was to compare clinical outcomes of receiving short (7–10 days) versus prolonged (>10 days) durations of antibiotic therapy for children with uncomplicated Gram-negative bacteraemia. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children with uncomplicated Gram-negative bacteraemia at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2002 and 2012. We estimated the risk of bacteraemic relapse among children who received short versus prolonged durations of antibiotic therapy using 1 : 1 nearest neighbour propensity score matching without replacement prior to performing regression analysis. Results There were 170 matched pairs that were well balanced on baseline covariates. The median duration of therapy in the short and prolonged courses was 10 days (IQR 10–10) and 14 days (IQR 14–17), respectively. The 30 day mortality was similar between the groups (OR 1.12; 95% CI 0.96–1.21). A prolonged duration of antibiotic therapy did not reduce the relapse risk compared with shorter durations (adjusted hazard ratio 0.67; 95% CI 0.35–1.27). Similarly, each additional day of antibiotic therapy was not protective against relapse risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.99 per additional day; 95% CI 0.92–1.03). There was a trend towards an increased subsequent risk of candidaemia in children receiving longer treatment durations (hazard ratio 2.44; 95% CI 0.97–6.19). Conclusions Antibiotic treatment for more than 10 days for uncomplicated bacteraemia in children does not reduce the risk of microbiological relapse compared with shorter-course therapy, but may be associated with an increased risk of candidaemia. Our findings need to be confirmed in a larger, prospective study. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We investigated the thermal stability of exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene(exo-THDCP, C10H16) in theabsence and presence of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (THQ), which actsas a hydrogen donor (H-donor). It was found that conversion of exo-THDCP was faster at the higher temperature. The increasein the rate of

Abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a lymphokine with a potential role in cancer therapy. Many clinical trials of recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2) have been conducted to treat malignant renal carcinoma, melanoma, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma. BMI Korea has developed a method to manufacture rhIL-2 in bulk using Escherichia coli as a biosimilar. Prior to conducting human clinical trials, 4-week repeated toxicity study of rhIL-2 was conducted. In this study, rhIL-2 was administered intravenously to rats at doses of 9×106, 18×106, and 36×106 IU/kg/day over a period of 4weeks. Adverse effects were observed in RBC, HGB, HCT, reticulocyte, mesenteric lymph node from middle dose, and changes of total bilirubin, femoral bone marrow, thymus, and clinical signs were observed at high dose. Local irritation was determined at low dose of female rats and at middle dose of male ones. Taken together, no observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) was determined at dose of 9×106 IU/kg/day in male, and NOAEL was determined under the dose level in female rats. It suggests that present rhIL-2 is less toxic prior produced rhIL-2 and may be contribute more effective cancer-treatment strategy in human. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An ex-vessel steam explosion has been considered as one of the most challenging severe accident phenomena to the integrity of the reactor cavity and containment of a nuclear power plant, owing to its rapid and dynamic characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to provide plant-specific uncertainty analysis results on the ex-vessel steam explosion-induced pressure loads, which can be used as key input to assess the conditional failure probability if the fragility structures of interest is provided. The APR1400, a two-loop pressurized water reactor, has been selected as a reference plant for an uncertainty analysis. For this purpose, a comprehensive uncertainty analysis has been performed for key thermal–hydraulic conditions of the reactor pressure vessel and cavity, which can highly influence on these pressure loads, with the help of a coupling of a steam explosion analysis code (TEXAS-V) with a sampling-based uncertainty quantification code (SAUNA). To get a more robust conclusion based on the analysis results, various sensitivity analyses have been applied to both probability types (e.g., normal and uniform PDF) and sampling schemes (e.g., random and Latin Hypercube sampling). Key contributors (i.e., physical and model parameters) to the underlying pressure loads have been determined by assessing the six currently available types of importance measures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Endothermic reactions of methylcyclohexane (MCH) with zeolites were investigated in a batch reactor to increase the heats of reaction. Conversion and product distribution affected the heat of reaction. The heat of reaction with HZSM-5, which led to the formation of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbon products, was larger than the heats of reaction with other zeolites. To improve the heat of reaction with HZSM-5, Pt/HZSM-5 (1wt.% Pt) was used in endothermic reactions. In endothermic reactions with Pt/HZSM-5, the heats of reaction increased, and there was a high yield of olefins, which were formed by dehydrogenation of paraffin on metal sites. A high conversion and high yield of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons and olefins led to an increase in the heat of reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. The local peritoneal effects of low-glucose degradation product (GDP)-containing peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF) have been extensively described. However, the systemic effects of prolonged prescription of these solutions are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of neutral pH and low-GDP PDF on systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction markers in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods. This is a multicenter, open labeled, randomized controlled trial including one hundred fifty-two patients initiating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease from seven centers in Korea. Participants were randomly allocated to conventional PDF (Stay safe®; Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany) or low-GDP PDF (Balance®; Fresenius Medical Care) and were followed for 1 year. Primary outcome variable was the inflammation and endothelial dysfunction index (IEDI), a composite score derived from serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1, soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, residual renal function (RRF), peritoneal membrane transport characteristics, ultrafiltration volume and nutritional parameters were measured as secondary outcome variables. Results. Of 152 patients randomized, 146 (low-GDP: conventional PDF, 79:67) patients entered the trial (46% male, 53% with diabetes mellitus). At 12-month follow-up, the low-GDP group had significantly lower levels of IEDI, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 compared to the conventional group; hs-CRP was not different between groups. Peritoneal transport characteristics, RRF, nutritional parameters, incidence of peritonitis and death-censored technique survival were not different between groups. Conclusion. Neutral pH and low-GDP PDF likely produce fewer changes in markers of endothelial dysfunction compared to conventional PDF in incident PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To define the risk factors and clinical outcomes of community-onset bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (ESBLEC), we analyzed 50 consecutive cases of community-onset bacteremia caused by ESBLEC at a secondary hospital in South Korea from 2005 to 2010. Risk factors were assessed by conducting a case-double control study in which cases were compared with (1) control patients with community-onset bacteremia due to non-ESBLEC, and (2) those with community-onset bacteremia not caused by E. coli. Clinical outcome was assessed among patients with community-onset E. coli bacteremia. Community-onset bacteremia due to ESBLEC accounted for 6.7% of all community-onset E. coli bacteremia. In addition, an increasing proportion of ESBLEC among patients without any healthcare risk factors was observed. Comparison with both control groups revealed that the recent use of antibiotics (odds ratio [OR], 4.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-12.3) was an independent risk factor for ESBL acquisition. Factors influencing the 30-day mortality were a high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0) and severe sepsis or septic shock (OR, 26.6; 95% CI, 1.5-470.7) and malignancy (OR, 11.9; 95% CI, 1.1-134.8). Increased mortality was not statistically associated either with ESBL production or with inappropriate empirical therapy. ESBLEC has emerged as a significant cause of community-onset bacteremia in this hospital, suggesting that ESBLEC are widely disseminated in the South Korean community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains an important cause of mortality in acute leukaemia patients. Previous studies reported that serum galactomannan (GM) levels correlate strongly with IA outcomes in patients with haematological cancers. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of serial GM testing for outcome evaluation of IA in acute leukaemia patients. We retrospectively analysed 58 acute leukaemia patients who had IA during neutropenic period after chemotherapy and whose serum GM was serially monitored until discharge or death. The kappa correlation coefficient was used to determine the strength of correlation between GM and clinical outcome (survival or death) of IA. The correlation between clinical outcome and GM kinetics was good at week 6 [κ = 0.663, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.465-0.861] and excellent at week 12 (κ = 0.819, 95% CI: 0.667-0.91). Survival was significantly better in patients whose GM values normalised than in patients with persistently positive GM ( P < 0.0001) regardless of whether neutropenia resolved or acute leukaemia responded to chemotherapy. In neutropenic patients with acute leukaemia, serum GM correlated strongly with survival outcome of IA. This finding further supports the usefulness of the GM index as a surrogate marker for assessing IA outcome and the need for serial GM testing in therapeutic monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, surface functionalized silica nanoparticles were prepared through a continuous two-step sol–gel process. After the TEOS-derived silica particles were synthesized, silane compounds were added during the second sol–gel process without any filtration or purification processes. The introductions of the organic chains to their surfaces were measured using 13C solid-state NMR. The effects of the hydrophilicity of the organo-chains on the silica particles were evaluated and analyzed by water contact angle and water wettability tests. The differences of surface charge in the dispersion state were analyzed by measuring the zeta-potential and the variations in the charge were measured as a function of pH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two different catalysts, Ni-(ZrO2) and Ni-(La2O3)0.1-(ZrO2)0.9, were synthesized to use as catalysts in the autothermal reforming of methane. Ni-(ZrO2) catalyst without lanthanum prepared in this study has a good initial performance, but as the reactions keep progressing, the activities gradually decrease. In contrast, the activities of Ni-(La2O3)0.1-(ZrO2)0.9 catalyst have high thermal stability and coke resistance due to the presence of La. Both methane conversion and hydrogen yield of Ni-(La2O3)0.1-(ZrO2)0.9 in non-reduced form are better than reduced form and as good as commercial Ni-based catalyst (ICI 57-4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The molecular mechanisms responsible for the sexual differentiation of the zebra finch song system remain mysterious. Androgen receptors are expressed in a sexually dimorphic fashion in the zebra finch song system: males have more cells expressing androgen receptors, and this sex difference appears very early in development (day 9 posthatch). Estrogen administration to hatchling females up-regulates androgen receptor expression in their song system and profoundly masculinizes their song system''s morphology. Co-administering flutamide, an androgen receptor blocker, with estrogen impedes estrogen''s masculinizing effects on the song system, suggesting that androgens are required for masculine development. Accordingly, to investigate further the role of androgens in the sexual differentiation of the zebra finch song system, we sought to block androgen activity in males by administering large, sustained doses of flutamide from just before androgen receptors are expressed in the song system (day 7) through to the day of sacrifice (days 61–63). Flutamide profoundly reduced the size of the testes, demonstrating that this drug and mode of administration could have a large impact on tissues. In contrast, flutamide had only a minor impact on the song system: the number of RA neurons was slightly reduced, and the corrected HVC volume showed a trend toward demasculinization. Other brain measures (uncorrected HVC, and corrected and uncorrected volumes of Area X, lMAN, RA, and Rotundus; neuron size in lMAN, HVC, and RA; and number of HVC and LMAN neurons) were not significantly affected. The present results do not support an important role for androgen in masculinizing the song circuit after posthatch day 7. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Retinoic acid (RA) is an important regulator of normal cellular proliferation and differentiation and suppressor of tumor growth by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, RA showed a chemo-preventive activity in preclinical and/or clinical models of lung, head and neck, breast, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we examined the effect of RA on the proliferation of human HCC cells, in order to analyze its mode of action and, finally, we attempted to find a surrogate biomarker of RA for HCC chemopreventive treatment. Our findings suggested that the growth inhibition of RA in HCC cells differed according to G1 phase delay by CDK2 or 4, finally induction of apoptosis. No correlation was found between RA sensitivity and the expression of nuclear retinoid receptors, such as RARs or RXRs in HCC cells. RA treatment caused cell cycle arrest at G1 and decreased the expressions and activities of CDK2 or CDK4 in RA-sensitive HepG2 and SNU354 cells. On the other hand, RA-resistant Hep3B and SNU449 cells progressed into the S/G2 +M phase and showed increased CDK2 and CDK4 expression and activity. Since the inhibition of CDK2 or 4 activities resulted in sensitization of HCC cells to RA, the combination of RA and compounds of inhibiting CDKs such as UCN01 and flavopiridol might be a useful targeted therapy strategy for HCC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) group of proteins has been implicated in regulation of various cytokine signaling and in a negative crosstalk between distinct signaling pathways. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and LPS were known to induce expression of SOCS-3 in neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages. IL-10 was also reported to inhibit a proinflammatory signal-induced NF-κB activation in monocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes. The effects of increased SOCS-3 expression upon IL-10 regulation of NF-κB activation have not yet been demonstrated. Here we examined the effects of SOCS-3 on NF-κB activity. SOCS-3 did not induce any alterations in NF-κB activity induced by LPS or TNF-α. However, it enhanced RelA-dependent κB promoter activity when cotransfected with RelA. Similar results were observed with SOCS-1. In contrast, SOCS-2 did not show any regulatory effects on RelA activity. Analysis of C-terminal truncation mutants of SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 demonstrated that the SOCS box and its N-terminal region, a less well-conserved linker region were important for SOCS-3 activation of RelA. In contrast, the SOCS box itself was critical for SOCS-1 to activate RelA. These results suggest that SOCS proteins can enhance the effects of NF-κB/Rel proteins, and therefore, further modulate immune and inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute rejection (AR) is critical for long-term graft survival in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the integrated risk score of omics-based biomarkers in predicting AR in KTRs. This prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter, pilot study enrolled 40 patients who recently underwent high-immunologic-risk kidney transplantation (KT). Five omics biomarkers were measured, namely, blood mRNA (three-gene signature), urinary exosomal miRNA (three-gene signature), urinary mRNA (six-gene signature), and two urinary exosomal proteins (hemopexin and tetraspanin-1) at 2 weeks and every 4 weeks after KT for 1 year. An integrated risk score was generated by summing each biomarker up. The biomarker group was informed about the integrated risk scores and used to adjust immunosuppression, but not the control group. The outcomes were graft function and frequency of graft biopsy. Sixteen patients in the biomarker group and nineteen in the control group completed the study. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate after KT did not differ between the groups. Graft biopsy was performed in two patients (12.5%) and nine (47.4%) in the biomarker and control groups, respectively, with the proportion being significantly lower in the biomarker group (p = 0.027). One patient (6.3%) in the biomarker group and two (10.5%) in the control group were diagnosed with AR, and the AR incidence did not differ between the groups. The tacrolimus trough level was significantly lower in the biomarker group than in the control group at 1 year after KT (p = 0.006). Integrated omics biomarker monitoring may help prevent unnecessary or high-complication-risk biopsy and enables tailored immunosuppression by predicting the risk of AR in KTRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A major flaw seen with concrete ties is deterioration due to the environmental or fatigue loading. • Another issue found in concrete ties, not found in timber, is the electrical conductivity. • A class of concrete railroad ties utilizing AFRP strand as the prestressing material was designed and evaluated. • AFRP strands are a potential substitute for steel strands for a railroad tie. Prestressing with steel strands has been a key aspect in providing the required strength and durability for railroad ties (sleepers) needed to resist the loads on heavy haul lines in many countries. In spite of their improved durability in contrast to timber ties, a major flaw seen with concrete ties is deterioration due to the environmental or fatigue loading. Another issue found in concrete ties, not found in timber, is the electrical conductivity. The objective of this research is to design and to evaluate a class of concrete railroad ties utilizing aramid fiber reinforced polymer (AFRP) strand as the prestressing material. AFRP prestressed ties were constructed and tested for serviceability and strength following the guidelines provided by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-way Association (AREMA). Results demonstrated that AFRP strands are a potential substitute for steel strands. Some detail improvements may be necessary to mitigate cracking, this can be achieved by using smaller diameter strands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ostwald ripening phenomenon, an instability observed in essential oil emulsions, could be controlled by modifying the oil composition. Herein, this study evaluated what types of triglycerides used to modify the oil composition may be more effective in inhibiting Ostwald ripening, and also determined how the interfacial properties of the emulsions affected the efficacy of triglycerides in inhibiting Ostwald ripening. Emulsions were stabilized by emulsifiers with differently sized hydrophilic groups, which correlate to the thickness of the interfacial region, and their oil compositions were varied by mixing triglycerides. Significant increase in droplet size was observed in emulsions prepared using only orange oil during storage. Modifying oil composition by adding medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) or long-chain triglycerides (LCT; corn oil in this study) inhibited droplet growth, and adding triglycerides over 20% into the oil phase prohibited Ostwald ripening. LCT was less efficacious in inhibiting Ostwald ripening than MCT for the same content. • Ostwald ripening was affected by the emulsifier type able to attribute interfacial properties. • Incorporation of triglycerides over 20% into oil phase perfectly prevented Ostwald ripening. • Ostwald ripening was inhibited more effectively by MCT than LCT for the same content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the utilization of electronic learning (e-learning) in virtual business and the business fields of technology and industry. It examines the concept of transfer in e-learning in regards to content retention, competence progress, business application, organizational support, achievement progress, and spread and extension. It states that a stratified sampling was used for the survey, examining the degree of transfer on a scale of one to five, and found that learners have a positive perception in the areas of achievement progress, competence progress, and content retention. It talks about differences in new employees and executives in application and comprehension of e-learning in technology and business.

The Toll signalling pathway, which is crucial for innate immunity, is transduced in insect haemolymph via a proteolytic cascade consisting of three serine proteases. The proteolytic cascade is downregulated by a specific serine protease inhibitor (serpin). Recently, the serpin SPN48 was found to show an unusual specific reactivity towards the terminal serine protease, Spätzle-processing enzyme, in the beetle Tenebrio molitor. In this study, the mature form of SPN48 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified SPN48 protein was crystallized using 14% polyethylene glycol 8000 and 0.1 M 2-( N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid pH 6.0 as the precipitant. The crystals diffracted X-rays to 2.1 Å resolution and were suitable for structure determination. The crystals belonged to space group P21. The crystal structure will provide information regarding how SPN48 achieves its unusual specificity for its target protease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with organ damage; however, the information about the relationship between acute kidney injury (AKI) and COVID-19 is still rare. We evaluated the clinical features and prognosis of COVID-19 patients with AKI according to the AKI severity. Medical data of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in two university-based hospitals during an outbreak in Daegu, South Korea, were retrospectively analyzed. AKI and its severity were defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network. Of the 164 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, 30 patients (18.3%) had AKI; 14, 4, and 12 patients had stage 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The median age was significantly higher in AKI patients than in non-AKI patients (75.5 vs. 67.0 years, p = 0.005). There were 17 deaths (56.7%) among AKI patients; 4 (28.6%), 1 (25.0%), and 12 (100.0%), respectively. In-hospital mortality was higher in AKI patients than in non-AKI patients (56.7% vs. 20.8%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, stage 3 AKI was associated with higher mortality than either non-AKI or stage 1 AKI (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.62 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.75–7.48), p = 0.001; HR = 15.65 (95% CI = 2.43–100.64), p = 0.004). Among the AKI patients, acute respiratory distress syndrome and low serum albumin on admission were considered independent risk factors for stage 3 AKI (both p < 0.05). Five patients with stage 3 AKI underwent dialysis and eventually died. In conclusion, COVID-19 patients with severe AKI had fatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental exposure to non-essential lead has become a serious problem in various developing and industrializing countries. There is an urgent need to develop a method offering instrument-free, rapid, highly sensitive, and selective detection of lead. Colorimetric detection of lead using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been reported but these NPs require specific surface modifications and incubation times. In this study, we have developed an approach for instant, highly selective and sensitive detection of Pb2+. The as-synthesized AuNPs did not require any surface modification for the detection of Pb2+. The selectivity was evaluated by taking 300 μM of various metal ions and the assay color was found to change rapidly from red to blue in the presence of Pb2+, whereas the color remained the same for the other metal ions. The present method did not require a long incubation time as the assay color changed as soon as the AuNPs were added into the Pb2+ solution. Therefore, the developed method realized rapid detection of Pb2+. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were calculated to be 18 μM and 53.5 μM, respectively. The detection mechanism was investigated using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Image 1 • The as-synthesized nanoparticles were used for the detection of Pb2+. • Incubation with sample was not required as the method showed an ultra-rapid response. • The LOD and LOQ were calculated to be 18 μM and 53.5 μM, respectively. • The carboxylic group ligands governed the interaction between the AuNPs and Pb2+. • A700/528 ratio shows Pb2+ in highest aggregation but other metals similar to blank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal Influenza is still considered associated with seasonal morbidity and hospitalization in the elderly population. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to reduce burden of two currently circulating influenza B lineages. Until 2019 Korean National Immunization Program (NIP) recommended trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) after ongoing debates on cost effectiveness of QIV for elderly population. Although influenza vaccine only showed modest effect on reducing influenza in elderly, this study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of inactivated QIV in healthy participants ≥ 65 years of age. A total of 274 healthy participants aged ≥ 65 years received a QIV. Seroconversion-based vaccine efficacy of 4 strains of seasonal influenza was assessed 21 days after vaccination and adverse events were monitored until 180 days after vaccination. The percentages of participants seroconverted after vaccination on HI antibody against each strain were 36.5% (99/271) to A/H1N1, 47.6% (129/271) to A/H3N2, 40.6% (110/271) to B Yamagata, and 49.1% (133/271) to B Victoria. The percentages of participants seroprotected after vaccination on HI antibody against each strain were 81.2% (220/271) to A/H1N1, 98.5% (267/271) to A/H3N2, 95.2% (258/271) to B Yamagata, and 93.7% (254/271) to B Victoria. There was no serious adverse event (SAE) related with the study vaccine. The quadrivalent split influenza vaccine is expected to offer seroprotection against influenza A and both influenza B lineages even in the elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare hematologic disorder that infrequently causes acute kidney injury (AKI). CMML can transform into acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which can be accompanied by a deterioration in kidney function. However, severe AKI due to extramedullary manifestations of AML is rare. Herein, we present the case of a 67-year-old male patient with CMML that transformed into AML with severe AKI necessitating hemodialysis. The cause of the AKI was the AML transformation. The patient, with stable kidney function after chemotherapy for CMML, presented with a sudden decline in kidney function. Hemodialysis was initiated because of severe AKI, and histopathologic evaluation of the kidney biopsy specimen revealed severe, diffuse mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates in the interstitium and c-kit-immunopositive myeloblast-like cells. A bone marrow biopsy was performed because of the kidney biopsy findings suggesting that leukemic infiltration led to the diagnosis of AML. The patient received chemotherapy for AML, and his kidney function recovered. As illustrated in this case, severe AKI can develop as an early extramedullary manifestation during transformation from CMML to AML. Therefore, in patients with CMML and rapidly declining renal function, transformation into AML should be considered and histopathologically confirmed by kidney biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Scrub typhus and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) are the 2 most common tick-borne infectious diseases in Korea. Every year, an increasing number of cases are reported, which is a public health concern. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of SFTS–scrub typhus coinfection in patients with SFTS. Methods Clinical samples were collected from 129 patients with SFTS. One-step reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to identify the SFTS virus (SFTSV), and real-time PCR followed by nested PCR was performed to detect the Orientia tsutsugamushi gene for scrub typhus. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to confirm the evolutionary relationships among different species. Results Among 129 SFTS cases, 2 patients with SFTSV were positive for O. tsutsugamushi with a prevalence of coinfection of 1.6% (95% confidence interval,.001–.06). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed these as O. tsutsugamushi strain Boryong. Conclusions Our study found that 1.6% of patients were coinfected with SFTS and scrub typhus infection. We believe that this information will add a new dimension to clinical diagnosis, which should be considered for better public health management. Further research is needed to better understand the ecological transmission dynamics and geographical distribution of SFTSV and O. tsutsugamushi in endemic countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study performed on the use of peer tutoring in computer literacy education. The author suggests that as computers become more popular, more children learn to use computers and computers can be utilized more in education. The study attempts to examine the attitudes required for peer education and provide educators with resource material on the subject. Details about the research, which used the computer program "Making a Picture Book," are provided and the results of the study are also explored.

The article discusses the development of a media literacy program for sixth-grade children based upon activity theory. After surveying parents, teachers, and children for their opinions on media literacy education, the authors developed a program that they first tested on a group of 17 children, and subsequently applied in modified form on a group of 66 children. The authors discuss several results including the internalization and externalization experienced by children, and offer suggestions for additional study.

In this study, we introduce a novel dual stimuli responsive self-reporting thiol-epoxy thermoset (DSRTET) coatings which can detect both crack occurrence and pH variation. For crack detection, microcapsule containing tetraphenylethylene (TPE) which exhibits aggregation induced emission (AIE) effect was prepared via multi-step emulsion polymerization and dispersed in DSRTET coatings. For pH variation detection, commercial thymol blue as a pH indicator was added into the polymer matrix. The effect of microcapsule contents in DSRTET on their curing behavior, material properties, and crack sensitivity was characterized using an oscillatory rheology, rigid body pendulum test (RPT), nano-indentation test (NST), universal test machine (UTM) and scratch tester. It was revealed that crack sensitivity of DSRTET coatings was greatly influenced by material properties as well as microcapsule content. The color transition of DSRTET coatings in response to acid or base solution were quantitatively investigated using a multi-angle spectrophotometer after simple acid and base solution drop tests. The color of DSRTET coatings changed from a pale green to red for acidic solution and to blue for basic solution. Finally, The DSRTET used in this study was applied to laboratory scale chemical reservoirs in order to verify the potential as a dual stimuli response self-reporting coating which can detect both crack in coating material and chemical spill caused by the leakage or breakage of the reservoir part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed HGA and SFTS in patients with suspected tick-borne infection by focusing on key differences that clinicians can easily recognize. A retrospective analysis was performed on confirmed patients with HGA or SFTS in 21 Korean hospitals from 2013 to 2020. A scoring system was developed by multivariate regression analysis and accuracy assessment of clinically easily discriminable parameters was performed. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that sex (especially male sex) (odds ratio [OR] 11.45, P = 0.012), neutropenia (< 1500) (OR 41.64, P < 0.001), prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (OR 80.133, P < 0.001), and normal C-reactive protein concentration (≤ 1.0 mg/dL; OR 166.855, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with SFTS but not with HGA. Each factor, such as meaningful variables, was given 1 point, and a receiver-operating characteristic curve with a cutoff value (> 1) in a 5-point scoring system (0–4 points) was analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of differentiation between HGA and SFTS. The system showed 94.5% sensitivity, 92.6% specificity, and an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.971 (0.949–0.9). Where HGA and SFTS are endemic, the scoring system based on these four parameters such as sex, neutrophil count, activated partial thromboplastin time, and C-reactive protein concentration will facilitate the differential diagnosis of HGA and SFTS in the emergency room in patients with suspected tick-borne infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal preparation is recommended for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease to minimize complications during dialysis initiation. This study evaluated the effects of planned dialysis initiation on survival in patients undergoing incident hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Patients newly diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease who started dialysis were enrolled in a multicenter prospective cohort study in Korea. Planned dialysis was defined as dialysis therapy initiated with permanent access and maintenance of the initial dialysis modality. A total of 2892 patients were followed up for a mean duration of 71.9 ± 36.7 months and 1280 (44.3%) patients initiated planned dialysis. The planned dialysis group showed lower mortality than the unplanned dialysis group during the 1st and 2nd years after dialysis initiation (1st year: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37–0.72; P < 0.001; 2nd year: aHR 0.71; 95% CI 0.52–0.98, P = 0.037). However, 2 years after dialysis initiation, mortality did not differ between the groups. Planned dialysis showed a better early survival rate in hemodialysis patients, but not in peritoneal dialysis patients. Particularly, infection-related mortality was reduced only in patients undergoing hemodialysis with planned dialysis initiation. Planned dialysis has survival benefits over unplanned dialysis in the first 2 years after dialysis initiation, especially in patients undergoing hemodialysis. It improved infection-related mortality during the early dialysis period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Females are known to have a better survival rate than males in the general population, but previous studies have shown that this superior survival is diminished in patients on dialysis. This study aimed to investigate the risk of mortality in relation to sex among Korean patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). A total of 4994 patients with kidney failure who were receiving dialysis were included for a prospective nationwide cohort study. Cox multivariate proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between sex and the risk of cause-specific mortality according to dialysis modality. During a median follow-up of 5.8 years, the death rate per 100 person-years was 6.4 and 8.3 in females and males, respectively. The female-to-male mortality rate in patients on dialysis was 0.77, compared to 0.85 in the general population. In adjusted analyses, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly lower for females than males in the entire population (hazard ratio [HR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71–0.87, P < 0.001). No significant differences in the risk of cardiovascular and infection-related deaths were observed according to sex. The risk of mortality due to sudden death, cancer, other, or unknown causes was significantly lower for females than males in the entire population (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.56–0.78, P < 0.001), in patients on HD (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62–0.90, P = 0.003), and in patients on PD (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.34–0.70, P < 0.001). The survival advantage of females in the general population was maintained in Korean dialysis patients, which was attributed to a lower risk of noncardiovascular and noninfectious death. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00931970. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrazide-linked naphthalimides undergo copper ion-selective hydrolysis with concomitant ratiometric fluorescence change. In addition, probe 1 is biocompatible and mainly localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in live HeLa cells. It thus can be used for imaging copper accumulation in the ER of live cells, as implied in copper-overloaded situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli has been increased not only in the hospital but also in the community worldwide. This study was aimed to characterize ESBL- producing E. coli isolates and to investigate the molecular epidemiology of community isolates in comparison with hospital isolates at a single center in Korea.Methods: A total of 142 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were collected at Daejeon St Mary's Hospital in Korea from January 2008 to September 2009. The ESBLs were characterized by PCR sequencing using specific primers. The genetic relatedness was determined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).Results: Of 142 isolates, 139 were positive for CTX-M type ESBLs; CTX-M-14 (n = 69, 49.6 %), CTX-M-15 (n = 53, 38.1 %) and both CTX-M-14 and -15 (n = 17, 12.2 %). CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-15 were detected in both community and hospital isolates whereas isolates producing both CTX-M14 and-15 were mainly identified in the hospital. CTX-M producing E. coli isolates were genetically heterogeneous, revealing 75 distinct PFGE types. By MLST, 21 distinctive STs including 5 major STs (ST131, ST405, ST38, ST10, and ST648) were identified. Major STs were distributed in both community and hospital isolates, and ST131 was the predominant clone regardless of the locations of acquisition. No specific major STs were confined to a single type of ESBLs. However, ST131 clones were significantly associated with CTX-M-15 and the majority of them were multidrug-resistant. Distinctively, we identified a hospital epidemic caused by the dissemination of an epidemic strain, ST131-PFGE type 10, characterized by multidrug resistance and co-producing both CTX-Ms with OXA-1 or TEM-1b.Conclusions: The epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli is a complex and evolving phenomenon attributed to the horizontal transfer of genetic elements and clonal spread of major clones, predominantly ST131. The multidrug resistant ST131 clone producing CTX-M-15 has emerged as a major clone in both the community and hospital, suggesting the widespread of this epidemic clone in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study investigating the effects of learning authenticity on the learning achievements in an online corporate training program. The authors note the importance for learners to recognize learning authenticity, which is a condition in which the activities of learner, complexity of learning tasks, and condition of evaluations are authentic. Topics include an overview of the team's research methodology, which includes a literature review of learning authenticity research, an explanation of the term achievement as it applies to the study, and a discussion of the results of a correlation analysis of the data.

The waiting time for deceased donor kidney transplants (DDKT) is increasing. We evaluated DDKT prognosis according to the pretransplant dialysis vintage. A total of 4117 first-time kidney transplant recipients were enrolled from a prospective nationwide cohort in Korea. DDKT recipients were divided into tertiles according to pretransplant dialysis duration. Graft failure, mortality, and composite were compared between DDKT and living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) recipients. Pretransplant dialysis vintage was longer annually in DDKT recipients. In the subdistribution of the hazard model for the competing risk, the first tertile did not show an increased risk of graft failure compared with LDKT recipients; however, the second and third tertile groups had an increased risk of graft failure compared to LDKT recipients (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69–7.63; P < 0.001; aHR 2.37; 95% CI 1.06–5.33; P = 0.037). All DDKT groups showed a significantly higher risk of patient death than LDKT, with the highest risk in the third tertile group (aHR 11.12; 95% CI 4.94–25.00; P < 0.001). A longer pretransplant dialysis period was associated with a higher risk of the composite of patient death and graft failure in DDKT recipients. DDKT after a short period of dialysis had non-inferior results on graft survival compared with LDKT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and scrub typhus are disorders with similar clinical features; therefore, differentiating between them is difficult. We retrospectively collected data from 183 SFTS and 178 scrub typhus patients and validated an existing scoring system to develop a more sensitive, specific, and objective scoring system. We first applied the scoring systems proposed by Kim et al. to differentiate SFTS from scrub typhus. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that altered mental status, leukopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and normal C-reactive protein (CRP) level (≤1.0 mg/dL) were significantly associated with SFTS. We changed the normal CRP level from ≤1.0 mg/dL to ≤3.0 mg/dL and replaced altered mental status with the creatine kinase (CK) level. The modified scoring system showed 97% sensitivity and 96% specificity for SFTS (area under the curve (AUC): 0.983) and a higher accuracy than the original scoring system (p = 0.0308). This study's scoring system had 97% sensitivity and 98% specificity for SFTS (AUC: 0.992) and a higher accuracy than Kim et al.'s original scoring system (p = 0.0308). Our scoring system that incorporated leukopenia, prolonged aPTT, normal CRP level (≤3.0 mg/dL), and elevated CK level (>1000 IU/L) easily differentiated SFTS from scrub typhus in an endemic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical characteristics and the effect of viral RNA loads on fatality in 56 patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) were analyzed. The non-survival group (12 patients) demonstrated a significantly higher mean age (77 years) than the survival group (44 patients, 65 years) (p = 0.003). The survival rates were 91.7% and 8.3% in patients with Ct values ≥30 and differed significantly (p = 0.001) in the survival and non-survival groups, respectively. The survival rates were 52.4% and 47.6% in patients with viral copy numbers ≥10,000 and 94.3% and 5.7% in patients with viral copy numbers <10,000 in the survival and non-survival groups, respectively (p = 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, viral copy numbers and initial Acute Psychologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores were identified as the factors affecting fatality (p = 0.015 and 0.011, respectively). SFTS viral RNA loads can be useful markers for the clinical prediction of mortality and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Heat of reaction from endothermic reaction of exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene with zeolites was investigated. [•] Conversion and product distribution affected heat of reaction. [•] It is need to lead high conversion and high yield of low molecular weight hydrocarbons and olefins to increase heat of reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]