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Abstract Debris flow hazards are often interpreted through back-calculated simulation analysis or empirical methods. The mobility of a debris flow is greatly influenced by mechanical and hydrological parameters. The strength parameters play important roles in the debris flow initiation and flow stages. In particular, the rheological parameters of yield strength and plastic viscosity directly affect the debris flow runout distance and velocity. One of the most important parameters to consider when evaluating debris flow hazards is the shear strength. This strength is called the residual shear strength in the failure stage and the yield strength in the post-failure stage. The residual shear strength obtained from ring shear tests can be related to the initiation of mass movements; the yield strength obtained from rheological tests can be related to the mobilization of debris flows. The residual shear stresses obtained from ring shear tests of weathered soils typically range between 10 and 100 kPa and strongly depend on the normal stress and shear velocity. When progressive slope failure (i.e., strain-softening behavior) occurs at a relatively shallow slope depth (e.g.,

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is widely recognized as a promising treatment for peripheral artery diseases because of their unique ability to secrete multiple growth factors and immunomodulatory cytokines. However, direct administration of MSCs frequently results in insufficient therapeutic efficacy due to low viability and poor retention at the implantation site. The delivery of MSCs in microsized hydrogels allows for simple injection, improved retention, and enhanced cell protection. However, the high oxidative stress present in ischemic tissues significantly impairs the viability and therapeutic activity of transplanted MSCs. This study aimed to develop a simple and effective method for fabricating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging microgels to enhance the MSC efficacy for ischemic hindlimb treatment. Specifically, tip-sonicated graphene oxide (GO)/alginate (sGO/alginate) microgels exhibited significantly increased antioxidizing activity against various ROS compared with pristine GO/alginate microgels. MSCs encapsulated in sGO/alginate microgels (MSC/sGO/alginate) demonstrated higher viability than those encapsulated in alginate or GO/alginate microgels under various oxidative stress conditions. Furthermore, human umbilical vein endothelial cells co-cultured with MSCs encapsulated in sGO/alginate microgels formed more tubes under both normal and H2O2-treated conditions, implying enhanced pro-angiogenic potential of the MSCs. In vivo experiments using hindlimb ischemia mouse models revealed significant improvements in blood perfusion, limb salvage, vascularization, and MSC survival in the MSC/sGO/alginate group compared with the other groups (MSC, MSC/alginate, and MSC/GO/alginate). The strategy developed in this study offers a straightforward and powerful method for treating various ROS-related diseases, including ischemia.

BackgroundDespite several studies on self-evaluation of health and body shape, existing research on the risk factors of self-perceived overweight is insufficient, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. ObjectiveThis study aims to identify the risk factors affecting self-perceived overweight and examine how the prevalence of self-perceived overweight has changed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we analyzed the impact of altered lifestyles due to COVID-19 on this phenomenon. MethodsThe data used in the study were obtained from middle and high school students who participated in the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (N=1,189,586). This survey was a 2-stage stratified cluster sampling survey representative of South Korean adolescents. We grouped the survey results by year and estimated the slope in the prevalence of self-perceived overweight before and during the pandemic using weighted linear regression, as well as the prevalence tendencies of self-perceived overweight according to various risk factors. We used prevalence ratios to identify the risk factors for self-perceived overweight. In addition, we conducted comparisons of risk factors in different periods to identify their associations with the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsThe prevalence of self-perceived overweight was much higher than BMI-based overweight among 1,189,586 middle and high school participants (grade 7-12) from 2005 to 2022 (female participants: n=577,102, 48.51%). From 2005 to 2019 (prepandemic), the prevalence of self-perceived overweight increased (β=2.80, 95% CI 2.70-2.90), but from 2020 to 2022 (pandemic) it decreased (β=–0.53, 95% CI –0.74 to –0.33). During the pandemic, individuals with higher levels of stress or lower household economic status exhibited a more substantial decrease in the rate of self-perceived overweight. The prevalence of self-perceived overweight tended to be higher among individuals with poor academic performance, lower economic status, poorer subjective health, and a higher stress level. ConclusionsOur nationwide study, conducted over 18 years, indicated that self-perceived overweight decreased during the COVID-19 period while identifying low academic performance and economic status as risk factors. These findings suggest the need for policies and facilities to address serious dieting and body dissatisfaction resulting from self-perceived overweight by developing counseling programs for adolescents with risk factors such as lower school performance and economic status.

Abstract Recent research has emphasized the role of macrophage-secreted factors on skeletal muscle metabolism. We studied Sargassum Serratifolium ethanol extract (ESS) in countering lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced changes in the macrophage transcriptome and their impact on skeletal muscle. Macrophage-conditioned medium (MCM) from LPS-treated macrophages (LPS-MCM) and ESS-treated macrophages (ESS-MCM) affected C2C12 myotube cells. LPS-MCM upregulated muscle atrophy genes and reduced glucose uptake, while ESS-MCM reversed these effects. RNA sequencing revealed changes in the immune system and cytokine transport pathways in ESS-treated macrophages. Protein analysis in ESS-MCM showed reduced levels of key muscle atrophy-related proteins, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, and GDF-15. These proteins play crucial roles in muscle function. These findings highlight the intricate relationship between the macrophage transcriptome and their secreted factors in either impairing or enhancing skeletal muscle function. ESS treatment has the potential to reduce macrophage-derived cytokines, preserving skeletal muscle function.

We address the challenges associated with traditional analytical models, such as BSIM, in semiconductor device modeling. These models often face limitations in accurately representing the complex behaviors of miniaturized devices. As an alternative, Neural Compact Models (NCMs) offer improved modeling capabilities, but their effectiveness is constrained by a reliance on extensive datasets for accurate performance. In real-world scenarios, where measurements for device modeling are often limited, this dependence becomes a significant hindrance. In response, this work presents a large-scale pre-training approach for NCMs. By utilizing extensive datasets across various technology nodes, our method enables NCMs to develop a more detailed understanding of device behavior, thereby enhancing the accuracy and adaptability of MOSFET device simulations, particularly when data availability is limited. Our study illustrates the potential benefits of large-scale pre-training in enhancing the capabilities of NCMs, offering a practical solution to one of the key challenges in current device modeling practices.

This paper proposes an efficient encoding framework based on Scalable High Efficiency Video Coding (SHVC) technology, which supports both low- and high-resolution 2D videos as well as stereo 3D (S3D) video simultaneously. Previous studies have introduced Cross-View SHVC, which encodes two videos with different viewpoints and resolutions using a Cross-View SHVC encoder, where the low-resolution video is encoded as the base layer and the other video as the enhancement layer. This encoder provides resolution diversity and allows the decoder to combine the two videos, enabling 3D video services. Even when 3D videos are composed of left and right videos with different resolutions, the viewer tends to perceive the quality based on the higher-resolution video due to the binocular suppression effect, where the brain prioritizes the high-quality image and suppresses the lower-quality one. However, recent experiments have shown that when the disparity between resolutions exceeds a certain threshold, it can lead to a subjective degradation of the perceived 3D video quality. To address this issue, a conditional replenishment algorithm has been studied, which replaces some blocks of the video using a disparity-compensated left-view image based on rate–distortion cost. This conditional replenishment algorithm (also known as VEI technology) effectively reduces the quality difference between the base layer and enhancement layer videos. However, the algorithm alone cannot fully compensate for the quality difference between the left and right videos. In this paper, we propose a novel encoding framework to solve the asymmetry issue between the left and right videos in 3D video services and achieve symmetrical video quality. The proposed framework focuses on improving the quality of the right-view video by combining the conditional replenishment algorithm with Cross-View SHVC. Specifically, the framework leverages the non-HEVC option of the SHVC encoder, using a VEI (Video Enhancement Information) restored image as the base layer to provide higher-quality prediction signals and reduce encoding complexity. Experimental results using animation and live-action UHD sequences show that the proposed method achieves BD-RATE reductions of 57.78% and 45.10% compared with HEVC and SHVC codecs, respectively.

Abstract Relativistic Weyl fermion quasiparticles in Weyl semimetal bring the electron’s chirality degree of freedom into the electrical transport and give rise to exotic phenomena. A topological phase transition from a topological trivial phase to a topological non-trivial phase offers a route to control electronic devices through its topological properties. Here, we report the Weyl semimetal phase in hydrothermally grown two-dimensional Tellurium (2D Te) induced by high hydrostatic pressure (up to 2.47 GPa). The unique chiral crystal structure gives rise to chiral fermions with different topological chiral charges ( $${{C}}=-{{1}},+{{1}},{{and}}-{{2}}$$ C = − 1 , + 1 , a n d − 2 ). The highly tunable chemical potential in 2D Te provides comprehensive information for understanding the pressure-dependent electron band structure. The pressure-induced insulator-to-metal transition, two-carrier transport, and the non-trivial π Berry phase shift in quantum oscillations are observed in the 2D Te Weyl semimetal phase. Our work demonstrates the pressure-induced bandgap closing in the inversion asymmetric narrow bandgap semiconductor 2D Te.

Abstract Objective We aimed to compare the adaptive immune response in individuals with or without prior SARS-CoV-2 infections following the administration of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Methods A total of 54 participants with ages ranging from 37 to 56 years old, consisting of 23 individuals without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (uninfected group) and 31 individuals with prior infection of SARS-CoV-2 (infected group) who have received two doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were enrolled in this study. We measured the IFN-γ level upon administration of BNT162b2 (PF) or mRNA-1273 (MO) by QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2. The production of neutralizing antibodies was evaluated by a surrogate virus neutralization assay, and the neutralizing capacity was assessed by a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50). The immune response was compared between the two groups. Results A significantly higher level of IFN-γ (p

Background and Objectives: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer. There are many methods for the reconstruction of facial subunit defects after skin cancer excision. The face is vital to a person’s life and should be reconstructed considering functional and aesthetic aspects. Despite a variety of flap types and techniques, it is still challenging to meet the various demands. The aim of this study was to compare free flaps for facial reconstruction after resection of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This study included 14 patients from January 2021 to June 2023. Patients who underwent facial SCC resection and subsequent reconstruction using free flaps were analyzed retrospectively. Age, sex, and localization were recorded. Follow-ups ranged from 5 to 21 months, with an average of 13 months. Results: All free flaps survived well except one case of partial flap necrosis. In most patients, good to excellent functional and aesthetic results were obtained. The donor site healed uneventfully in all patients. Conclusions: Free flap reconstruction is an excellent choice in wide skin oncologic defects. In terms of texture, it also could be a good surgical method. The use of a fraxel laser can progressively facilitate improved color matching with the surrounding skin.

Abstract Background Early life plays a vital role in the development of the gut microbiome and subsequent health. While many factors that shape the gut microbiome have been described, including delivery mode, breastfeeding, and antibiotic use, the role of household environments is still unclear. Furthermore, the development of the gut antimicrobial resistome and its role in health and disease is not well characterized, particularly in settings with water insecurity and less sanitation infrastructure. Results This study investigated the gut microbiome and resistome of infants and young children (ages 4 days-6 years) in rural Nicaragua using Oxford Nanopore Technology’s MinION long-read sequencing. Differences in gut microbiome diversity and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) abundance were examined for associations with host factors (age, sex, height for age z-score, weight for height z-score, delivery mode, breastfeeding habits) and household environmental factors (animals inside the home, coliforms in drinking water, enteric pathogens in household floors, fecal microbial source tracking markers in household floors). We identified anticipated associations of higher gut microbiome diversity with participant age and vaginal delivery. However, novel to this study were the significant, positive associations between ruminant and dog fecal contamination of household floors and gut microbiome diversity. We also identified greater abundance of potential pathogens in the gut microbiomes of participants with higher fecal contamination on their household floors. Path analysis revealed that water quality and household floor contamination independently and significantly influenced gut microbiome diversity when controlling for age. These gut microbiome contained diverse resistome, dominated by multidrug, tetracycline, macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin, and beta-lactam resistance. We found that the abundance of ARGs in the gut decreased with age. The bacterial hosts of ARGs were mainly from the family Enterobacteriaceae, particularly Escherichia coli. Conclusions This study identified the role of household environmental contamination in the developing gut microbiome and resistome of young children and infants with a One Health perspective. We found significant relationships between host age, gut microbiome diversity, and the resistome. Understanding the impact of the household environment on the development of the resistome and microbiome in early life is essential to optimize the relationship between environmental exposure and human health. Video Abstract Graphical Abstract

Background: Numerous fascial closure techniques have been used to reduce donor site morbidities after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap harvest. A leaflet-shaped acellular dermal matrix (ADM) with a thickness gradient was designed to cover the defect effectively and to withstand the pressure applied to the lower portion of the defect. The complication and functional recovery rates of the donor site of the custom ADM were compared with those of previous methods of fascial closure (primary closure and polypropylene mesh assisted closure). Materials and methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing immediate or delayed breast reconstruction using muscle-sparing TRAM flaps was performed. Abdominal bulging, hernia, wound dehiscence, infection, seroma, and hematoma rates were compared. The Back Performance Scale measured four months postoperatively was compared to evaluate the donor site's recovery rate. Results: A total of 173 patients were analyzed. The three groups did not differ in hernia, wound dehiscence, infection, and hematoma rates. However, the abdominal bulging rate was lower in the primary closure group, while the seroma rate was higher in the mesh group. Functional recovery was the fastest in the custom ADM group. Conclusion: A thickness-gradient, leaflet-shaped ADM can be effectively used as an onlay graft to cover the abdominal fascial defect, with similar complication rates, while providing a faster recovery of abdominal function.

Abstract Near-perfect light absorbers (NPLAs), with absorbance, $${{{{{{{\mathcal{A}}}}}}}}$$ A , of at least 99%, have a wide range of applications ranging from energy and sensing devices to stealth technologies and secure communications. Previous work on NPLAs has mainly relied upon plasmonic structures or patterned metasurfaces, which require complex nanolithography, limiting their practical applications, particularly for large-area platforms. Here, we use the exceptional band nesting effect in TMDs, combined with a Salisbury screen geometry, to demonstrate NPLAs using only two or three uniform atomic layers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). The key innovation in our design, verified using theoretical calculations, is to stack monolayer TMDs in such a way as to minimize their interlayer coupling, thus preserving their strong band nesting properties. We experimentally demonstrate two feasible routes to controlling the interlayer coupling: twisted TMD bi-layers and TMD/buffer layer/TMD tri-layer heterostructures. Using these approaches, we demonstrate room-temperature values of $${{{{{{{\mathcal{A}}}}}}}}$$ A =95% at λ=2.8 eV with theoretically predicted values as high as 99%. Moreover, the chemical variety of TMDs allows us to design NPLAs covering the entire visible range, paving the way for efficient atomically-thin optoelectronics.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), which are a form of microbial dysbiosis in freshwater environments, are an emerging environmental and public health concern. Additionally, the freshwater environment serves as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose a risk of transmission during microbial dysbiosis, such as cyanoHABs. However, the interactions between potential synergistic pollutants, cyanoHABs, and ARGs remain poorly understood. During cyanoHABs, Microcystis and high microcystin levels were dominant in all the nine regions of the river sampled. The resistome, mobilome, and microbiome were interrelated and linked to the physicochemical properties of freshwater. Planktothrix and Pseudanabaena competed with Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria during cyanoHABs. Forty two ARG carriers were identified, most of which belonged to Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. ARG carriers showed a strong correlation with ARGs density, which decreased with the severity of cyanoHAB. Although ARGs decreased due to a reduction of ARG carriers during cyanoHABs, mobile gene elements (MGEs) and virulence factors (VFs) genes increased. We explored the relationship between cyanoHABs and ARGs for potential synergistic interaction. Our findings demonstrated that cyanobacteria compete with freshwater commensal bacteria such as Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, which carry ARGs in freshwater, resulting in a reduction of ARGs levels. Moreover, cyanoHABs generate biotic and abiotic stress in the freshwater microbiome, which may lead to an increase in MGEs and VFs. Exploration of the intricate interplays between microbiome, resistome, mobilome, and pathobiome during cyanoHABs not only revealed that the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of microbial dysbiosis but also emphasizes the need to prioritize the prevention of microbial dysbiosis in the risk management of ARGs.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been a worldwide concern since 2019. Vaccines are predicted to be crucial in preventing further outbreaks. The development and kinetics of immune responses determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: We measured interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels upon administering homologous adenovirus vector-based (ChAdOx1-S [AZ], Ad26.COV2.S [JAN]), mRNA-based (BNT162b2 [PF]; mRNA-1273 [MO]), and heterologous (AZ/PF) vaccines in healthy Korean individuals using two IFN-γ release assays: the Covi-FERON ELISA and T-SPOT Discovery SARS-CoV-2 assay. B cell responses were evaluated by assessing the production of neutralizing antibodies by surrogate virus neutralization assay. The immune response among the vaccine groups was compared after adjusting the vaccination dose and interactions between each group. Results: AZ triggered the highest T cell response after the first dose but showed instability after the second. PF and MO yielded stable and higher increments of T and B cell responses compared to AZ. MO yielded a higher immune response than PF. JAN yielded T and B cell responses at lower levels than the other vaccines. The booster dose triggered significant increases in the T and B cell responses and is therefore needed to protect against SARS-CoV-2 given the possibility of waning immune responses. Conclusion: Administering two doses of mRNA vaccines provides the most effective results among the administered vaccines in triggering the immune response specific to SARS-CoV-2 in healthy Korean individuals. Administration of booster doses demonstrated a significant increase in the immune response and may provide longer protection against SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract Background Due to anthropogenic activities and global warming, the severity and distribution of harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been increasing steadily worldwide, including in South Korea (S. Korea). Previous studies reported that exposure to HABs could increase the risk of HAB-related diseases. However, very few studies examined the linkage between HABs and disease occurrence, particularly in S. Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of HABs on neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and motor neuron disease, at a population level. Methods Thirteen-year data (2005–2017) for chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentrations as a bloom-related parameter, annual numbers of NDs, and population information were collected. First, the entire area of S. Korea was divided into a grid of 1 km, and the population number in each 1-km grid was collected using the Statistical Geographic Information Service Plus system. Cross-sectional time series data were analyzed with two statistical models, a generalized linear mixed model and a generalized linear model. Results The results show a general trend of increasing chl-a concentration and NDs year by year. We observed positive correlations between HAB intensity and the incidence rate of NDs. Particularly, HABs seem to have the most long-term carry-over effect on Parkinson’s disease. Another key finding was that a 5-km radius from the HAB location was the boundary that showed the most significant associations with three NDs. Conclusions This study provides statistical evidence that supports the potential risk of NDs from the exposure to HAB. Thus, it is recommended to monitor a broad spectrum of cyanotoxins, including neurotoxins, in bloom-affected regions in S. Korea and epidemiological studies in the future.

Abstract Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (IV-FCM) can effectively correct perioperative anemia in patients undergoing major surgeries. However, its efficacy and side effects in patients undergoing free flap-based breast reconstruction are yet to be investigated. At our institution, from year 2020, patients with breast cancer undergoing abdominal free flap-based breast reconstruction were injected 500 mg of IV-FCM immediately post-operation. Propensity-matched 82 IV-FCM injected (study group) and 164 historical control group patients were retrospectively analyzed for transfusion rates, changes in hematological parameters, and flap or donor-site related complications. The major and minor complication rates related to the operation site were similar between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the transfusion rate between the two groups (control 29.9% vs. study 32.9%, p = 0.71). However, the total amount of transfusion required was significantly higher in the historical control group (control—53.2% 1 pack, 42.6% 2 packs, 4.3% 3 packs of RBC vs. Study—66.7% 1 pack, 33.3% 2 packs, p = 0.02) than in the study group. Additionally, the historical control group showed a significantly higher drop in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels from postoperative days 1–2 and 2–3 compared to the study group. Immediate postoperative use of IV-FCM in free flap-based breast reconstruction was well tolerated by patients and reduced overall transfusion volume.

BackgroundWestern Lake Erie is suffering from harmful cyanobacterial blooms, primarily toxic Microcystis spp., affecting the ecosystem, water safety, and the regional economy. Continued bloom occurrence has raised concerns about public health implications. However, there has been no investigation regarding the potential increase of Legionella and antibiotic resistance genes in source water, and disinfection byproducts in municipal treated drinking water caused by these bloom events.MethodsOver 2 years, source water (total n = 118) and finished water (total n = 118) samples were collected from drinking water plants situated in western Lake Erie (bloom site) and central Lake Erie (control site). Bloom-related parameters were determined, such as microcystin (MC), toxic Microcystis, total organic carbon, N, and P. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) [total trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs)] were assessed in finished water. Genetic markers for Legionella, antibiotic resistance genes, and mobile genetic elements were quantified in source and finished waters.ResultsSignificantly higher levels of MC-producing Microcystis were observed in the western Lake Erie site compared to the control site. Analysis of DBPs revealed significantly elevated THMs concentrations at the bloom site, while HAAs concentrations remained similar between the two sites. Legionella spp. levels were significantly higher in the bloom site, showing a significant relationship with total cyanobacteria. Abundance of ARGs (tetQ and sul1) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were also significantly higher at the bloom site.DiscussionAlthough overall abundance decreased in finished water, relative abundance of ARGs and MGE among total bacteria increased after treatment, particularly at the bloom site. The findings underscore the need for ongoing efforts to mitigate bloom frequency and intensity in the lake. Moreover, optimizing water treatment processes during bloom episodes is crucial to maintain water quality. The associations observed between bloom conditions, ARGs, and Legionella, necessitate future investigations into the potential enhancement of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and Legionella spp. due to blooms, both in lake environments and drinking water distribution systems.

Toxic blooms of cyanobacteria, which can produce cyanotoxins, are prevalent in freshwater, especially in South Korea. Exposure to cyanotoxins via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact may cause severe diseases. Particularly, toxic cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins can be aerosolized by a bubble-bursting process associated with a wind-driven wave mechanism. A fundamental question remains regarding the aerosolization of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins emitted from freshwater bodies during bloom seasons. To evaluate the potential health risk of the aerosolization of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, the objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to quantify levels of microcystin in the water and air samples, and 2) to monitor microbial communities, including toxic cyanobacteria in the water and air samples. Water samples were collected from five sites in the Nakdong River, South Korea, from August to September 2022. Air samples were collected using an air pump with a mixed cellulose ester membrane filter. Concentrations of total microcystins were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to investigate microbial communities, including toxic cyanobacteria. Mean concentrations of microcystins were 960 μg/L ranging from 0.73 to 5,337 μg/L in the water samples and 2.48 ng/m3 ranging from 0.1 to 6.8 ng/m3 in the air samples. In addition, in both the water and air samples, predominant bacteria were Microcystis (PCC7914), which has a microcystin-producing gene, and Cyanobium. Particularly, abundance of Microcystis (PCC7914) comprised more than 1.5% of all bacteria in the air samples. This study demonstrates microbial communities with genes related with microcystin synthesis, antibiotic resistance gene, and virulence factors in aerosols generated from cyanobacterial bloom-affected freshwater body. In summary, aerosolization of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins is a critical concern as an emerging exposure route for potential risk to environmental and human health.

Landslides are prevalent natural disasters in mountainous regions worldwide, and the debris flows that accompany them are considered a significant cause of topographical changes. Landslide-debris flows cause property damage and casualties if they occur in densely populated areas, such as cities and rural areas. Sediments entering a dam or reservoir lake can compromise the integrity and functionality of the facility. To minimize such damage, this phenomenon should be elucidated through numerical models and quantitative analyses performed. Despite South Korea having approximately 18,000 dams and reservoirs, with approximately 70% of the country being mountainous, research on landslides and debris flows occurring in the dam and reservoir basins remains insufficient. However, such studies are essential for the continuous operation and management of dams/reservoirs. This study focused on analyzing the damage caused by landslide-debris flow events in a dam or reservoir basin. We established different scenarios based on the distribution of vegetation in the basin to determine the impact of vegetation on slope stability and debris flows.

Background/Aims: Although fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been proven as one of the promising treatments for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), potential prognostic markers regarding the clinical outcomes of FMT remain elusive. Methods: We collected fecal samples of 10 participants undergoing FMT to treat UC and those from the corresponding donors. We categorized them into two groups: responders and nonresponders. Sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was conducted on the samples to explore bacterial composition. Results: Analyzing the gut microbiota of patients who showed different outcomes in FMT presented a distinct microbial niche. Source tracking analysis showed the nonresponder group had a higher rate of preservation of donor microbiota, underscoring that engraftment degrees are not one of the major drivers for the success of FMT. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes bacteria were significantly depleted (p

Nasal dermoid cysts are rare congenital anomalies that affect one in 20,000 to one in 40,000 individuals. Herein, we report a case of an initially misdiagnosed nasal dermoid cyst with intracranial extension. Among nasal dermoids, the lesion of the nasal tip is considered uncommon. Therefore, this should always be considered as a differential diagnosis of midline nasal masses, and a proper diagnostic approach should be taken.

Abstract Lymphedema is a progressive disease caused by lymphatic flow blockage in the lymphatic pathway. Primary (hereditary) lymphedema is caused by genetic mutations without secondary causes. We performed clinical profiling on Korean primary lymphedema patients based on their phenotypes using lymphoscintigraphy and made genetic diagnoses using a next-generation sequencing panel consisting of 60 genes known to be related to primary lymphedema and vascular anomalies. Of 27 patients included in this study, 14.8% of the patients had lymphedema of the upper extremities, 77.8% had lymphedema of the lower extremities and 7.4% had 4-limbs lymphedema. Based on the International Society of Lymphology staging, 14, 10, and 3 patients had stage 3, 2, and 1 lymphedema, respectively. Only one family was genetically confirmed to harbor likely pathogenic variants in CELSR1. The proband was carrying two likely pathogenic variants in CELSR1, while her symptomatic mother was confirmed to carry only one of the variants. Furthermore, two other variants of uncertain significance in CELSR1 were detected in other patients, making CELSR1 the most commonly altered gene in our study. The clinical and genetic profile of hereditary lymphedema reported here is the first such data series reported for South Korea.

Triage is essential for the early diagnosis and reporting of emergency patients in the emergency department. Here, the authors develop an anomaly detection algorithm with a deep generative model that reprioritizes radiology worklists and provides lesion attention maps for brain CT images with critical findings.

We analyzed the accuracy and time efficiency of the FilmArray blood culture identification (FA-BCID) panel in identifying the pathogens in positive blood cultures. Two-hundred and seventy-two individuals were randomly assigned as the control (n = 212) and FA-BCID (n = 60) groups participating in this study. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to assess the control group. Meanwhile, the FA-BCID group was evaluated using both FA-BCID and MALDI-TOF, and the results were compared. The identification results from 73% (44/60) of the blood samples demonstrated agreement between FA-BCID and MALDI-TOF. The FA-BCID panel detected mecA genes in seven Staphylococcus species; six cases were confirmed using antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In addition, KPC genes were detected in one Escherichia coli and one Klebsiella pneumoniae, although only the latter corresponded with the result from antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The turnaround time (TAT) for identification through FA-BCID was shorter, with a median of 3.6 [2.4–4.6] hours (p < 0.05). No significant differences in the clinical and microbial outcomes following the ASP were observed between FA-BCID and MALDI-TOF. These results suggest that the FA-BCID panel provides an identification result that is as reliable as that provided by the routine identification procedure but with shorter TAT; thus, the FA-BCID method is considered an effective and beneficial method for therapeutic decision making and the improvement of the ASP for patients with bloodstream infection.

Neutralizing antibodies play a critical role in blocking viral infections and in viral clearance during acute infection. The microneutralization assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) targeting the receptor binding domain were performed for 30 patients with mild coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 infections. The elapsed number of days between sample collection and diagnosis was 115 days, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values at diagnosis were recorded. Clinical characteristics and Ct values were compared between neutralization antibody-positive and -negative patients as measured by the microneutralization assay. Neutralization antibody-positive patients (n = 9) were likely to be older, have low Ct values, have more pneumonia during admission, and have a higher optical density in ELISA than the neutralization antibody-negative patients (n = 21). Elderly people seemed to have a higher viral load causing more pneumonia and to produce more neutralization antibodies. Neutralization antibodies persisted in only 30% of patients as detected by microneutralization test after 100 days of diagnosis.

Recently, active research has been conducted on Korean grammatical error correction on machine translation (MT) and automatic noise generation. However, there is no gold-standard test set for objective and official comparative analysis. A significant limitation is measuring the ill-defined performance because the experimental error types in the train set are also included in the test set. Moreover, error types in the training set are also included in the test set. Additionally, the types of errors for qualitative analysis are defined differently with no explicit guidelines. This study proposes a gold-standard test set called the Korean Neural Grammatical Correction Test set (K-NCT) for Korean grammatical error correction using a new error type classification guideline. To ensure the factuality and reliability of the proposal, we conduct a quantitative analysis using a commercialization system and human evaluation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed grammatical error correction test set has a well-balanced, diverse, and precise guideline. Our dataset is available at https://github.com/seonminkoo/K-NCT

Abstract Controllable growth and facile transferability of a crystalline film with desired characteristics, acquired by tuning composition and crystallographic orientation, become highly demanded for advanced flexible devices. Here the desired crystallographic orientations and facile transferability of a crystalline film can be achieved by “thru‐hole epitaxy” in a straightforward and undemanding manner with no limitation on the layer number and polarity of a 2D space layer and the surface characteristics. The crystallographic alignment can be established by the connectedness of the grown material to the substrate through a small net cross‐sectional area of thru‐holes, which also allows the straightforward detachment of the grown material. Thru‐hole epitaxy can be adopted for the realization of advanced flexible devices on large scale with desired crystallographic orientation and facile transferability.

Background: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis. This study aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology of GAS infection using an emmtyping and emm-clustering approach. Methods: A total of 372 patients from Changwon who showed pharyngitis symptoms were recruited during the sampling period of 2018–2019 and throat cultures were obtained from them. emm typing was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. emm genotypes and GAS clusters were classified based on a web-based database. Results: Of the 372 throat swab specimens, 101 (27.2%) were positive for GAS. emm typing analysis was performed on 59 GAS isolates. The most prevalent emm type was emm89 (20.3%), followed by emm12 (16.9%). Seven emm clusters were identified: E4 (emm89/ emm28, 32.2%), A-C4 (emm12, 16.9%), E1 (emm4, 13.6%), A-C5 (emm3, 10.2%), E6 (emm75, 8.5%), M6 (emm6, 8.5%), and A-C3 (emm1, 6.8%). Conclusion: Diverse and temporal changes were observed in the distribution of emm types and clusters of GAS. Continuous surveillance based on emm genotyping is needed to monitor the epidemiological characteristics of GAS pharyngitis.

The consumption of fresh produce is increasing due to its role in promoting a healthy and balanced diet. However, this trend is accompanied by increased foodborne disease cases associated with pathogens such as Escherichia, Listeria, and Salmonella. Previous studies provided evidence that the internalization of foodborne pathogens in fresh produce may be a potential contamination route and may pose a public health risk. This study investigates the combination effects of storage temperature and humidity on Salmonella internalization in six types of leafy greens (iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, red lettuce, green onion, spinach, and kale) during the storage stage. The results indicated that temperature plays a critical role in Salmonella internalization, with higher concentrations observed in samples stored at 25 °C compared to those stored at 7 °C. The mean concentration of internalized Salmonella in the iceberg lettuce sample was the highest and that in the green onion sample was the lowest (iceberg lettuce > red lettuce > romaine lettuce > spinach > kale > green onion). Mist conditions also had an impact on internalization. The group treated with mist showed an increase in Salmonella internalization of about 10–30% rather than the group without mist treatment. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors influencing bacterial internalization in fresh produce and highlights the need for proper storage conditions to minimize the risk of contamination and ensure food safety.

An intermittent fasting regimen is widely perceived to lead to various beneficial health effects, including weight loss, the alleviation of insulin resistance, and the restructuring of a healthy gut microbiome. Because it shares certain commonalities with this dietary intervention, Ramadan fasting is sometimes misinterpreted as intermittent fasting, even though there are clear distinctions between these two regimens. The main purpose of this study is to verify whether Ramadan fasting drives the same beneficial effects as intermittent fasting by monitoring alterations in the gut microbiota. We conducted a study involving 20 Muslim individuals who were practicing Ramadan rituals and assessed the composition of their gut microbiomes during the 4-week period of Ramadan and the subsequent 8-week period post-Ramadan. Fecal microbiome analysis was conducted, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were assessed using liquid-chromatography–mass spectrometry. The observed decrease in the levels of SCFAs and beneficial bacteria during Ramadan, along with the increased microbial diversity post-Ramadan, suggests that the daily diet during Ramadan may not provide adequate nutrients to maintain robust gut microbiota. Additionally, the notable disparities in the functional genes detected through the metagenomic analysis and the strong correlation between Lactobacillus and SCFAs provide further support for our hypothesis.

Abstract We performed density functional theory calculations to investigate the thermoelectric properties of phosphorene oxide (PO) expected to form by spontaneous oxidation of phosphorene. Since thermoelectric features by nature arise from the consequences of the electron-phonon interaction, we computed the phonon-mediated electron relaxation time, which was fed into the semiclassical Boltzmann transport equation to be solved for various thermoelectric-related quantities. It was found that PO exhibits superior thermoelectric performance compared with its pristine counterpart, which has been proposed to be a candidate for the use of future thermoelectric applications. We revealed that spontaneous oxidation of phosphorene leads to a significant enhancement in the thermoelectric properties of n-doped phosphorene oxide, which is attributed to the considerable reduction of lattice thermal conductivity albeit a small decrease in electrical conductivity. Our results suggest that controlling oxidation may be utilized to improve thermoelectric performance in nanostructures, and PO can be a promising candidate for low-dimensional thermoelectric devices.

Researchers are interested in measuring mental stress because it is linked to a variety of diseases. Real-time stress monitoring via wearable sensor systems can aid in the prevention of stress-related diseases by allowing stressors to be controlled immediately. Physical tests, such as heart rate or skin conductance, have recently been used to assess stress; however, these methods are easily influenced by daily life activities. As a result, for more accurate stress monitoring, validations requiring two or more stress-related biomarkers are demanded. In this review, the combinations of various types of sensors (hereafter referred to as multiplexed sensor systems) that can be applied to monitor stress are discussed, referring to physical and chemical biomarkers. Multiplexed sensor systems are classified as multiplexed physical sensors, multiplexed physical–chemical sensors, and multiplexed chemical sensors, with the effect of measuring multiple biomarkers and the ability to measure stress being the most important. The working principles of multiplexed sensor systems are subdivided, with advantages in measuring multiple biomarkers. Furthermore, stress-related chemical biomarkers are still limited to cortisol; however, we believe that by developing multiplexed sensor systems, it will be possible to explore new stress-related chemical biomarkers by confirming their correlations to cortisol. As a result, the potential for further development of multiplexed sensor systems, such as the development of wearable electronics for mental health management, is highlighted in this review.

Anomaly detection is an important problem for recent advances in machine learning. To this end, many attempts have emerged to detect unknown anomalies of the images by learning representations and designing score functions. In this paper, we propose a simple yet effective framework for unsupervised anomaly detection using self-supervised learning. We extend conventional self-supervised learning for an anomaly detection problem. In anomaly detection, anomalous patterns appear in the local regions of an image, so we employ dynamic local augmentation to generate a negative pair of the images from the normal training dataset. Specifically, in addition to learning the global representation of an image, our framework contrasts a normal sample to a locally augmented sample. To effectively apply the local augmentations regardless of a category or a random location of an image, we use dynamically weighted local augmentations to generate more suitable negative samples. We also present a novel scoring function for detecting unseen anomalous patterns. Our experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of our method, and we show that our framework achieves competitive performance compared to state-of-the-art methods on MVTec Anomaly Detection dataset.

Abstract Recently, it has been known that the hidden Rashba (R-2) effect in two-dimensional materials gives rise to a physical phenomenon called spin-layer locking (SLL). However, not only its underlying fundamental mechanism has been unclear, but also there are only a few materials exhibiting weak SLL. Here, through the first-principles density functional theory and model Hamiltonian calculation, we reveal that the R-2 SLL can be determined by the competition between the sublayer–sublayer interaction and the spin–orbit coupling, which is related to the Rashba strength. In addition, the orbital angular momentum distribution is another crucial point to realize the strong R-2 SLL. We propose that a 2D material Si2Bi2 possesses an ideal condition for the strong R-2 SLL, whose Rashba strength is evaluated to be 2.16 eVÅ, which is the greatest value ever observed in 2D R-2 materials to the best of our knowledge. Furthermore, we reveal that the interlayer interaction in a bilayer structure ensures R-2 states spatially farther apart, implying a potential application in spintronics.

Abstract Background In this study, we evaluated the genetic relatedness of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KPN) isolates from an outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in August 2017, We implemented an active countermeasure to control this outbreak successfully. Methods The incidence of healthcare-associated ESBL-KPN bacteremia was evaluated before and after initiating enhanced infection control (IC) practices in January 2018. Surveillance cultures were set up and monitored for neonates, medical personnel, and NICU environments. Molecular analyses, including pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), sequence typing, and ESBL genotyping, were performed for the isolated KPN strains. Results After implementing the enhanced IC procedures, the healthcare-associated bacteremia rate decreased from 6.0 to 0.0 per 1000 patient-days. Samples from neonates (n = 11/15, 73.3%), medical personnel (n = 1/41, 2.4%), and medical devices and the environments (6/181, 3.3%) tested positive for ESBL-KPN in the surveillance cultures in December 2017. Active surveillance cultures revealed that 23 of 72 neonates who were screened (31.9%) were colonized with ESBL-KPN between January and March 2018. All the isolates demonstrated closely related PFGE patterns and were identified as ST307 strain carrying the CTX-M-15 gene. Conclusions Contaminated NICU environments and medical devices, as well as transmission by medical personnel, appeared to be the source of the outbreak of ESBL-KPN infection. We employed an enhanced IC strategy during January–March 2018 and successfully controlled the clonal outbreak of CTX-M-15-positive KPN. ST307 has emerged as an important bacteremia-causing pathogen in the NICU and should be carefully monitored.

Surface waters, especially those receiving wastewater flows, can disseminate antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB), antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), and antibiotics. In the Scioto River of central Ohio, United States, we evaluated fishes as potential sentinels of ARB and antimicrobial contamination and investigated the influence of antimicrobial exposure on the fish intestinal resistome. Seventy-seven fish were collected from river reaches receiving inputs from two wastewater treatment plants that serve the greater Columbus Metropolitan Area. Fish were screened for the presence of cephalosporin-resistant (CeRO) and carbapenem-resistant (CRO) organisms, epidemic carbapenemase genes, and antibiotic drugs and metabolites using culture methods, droplet digital PCR, and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS/MS). Nearly 21% of fish harbored a CeRO in their resistome, with 19.4% exhibiting bacteria expressing an AmpC genotype encoded by blaCMY, and 7.7% with bacteria expressing an extended-spectrum β-lactamase phenotype encoded by blaCTX-M. blaKPC and blaNDM were present in 87.7% (57/65) and 80.4% (37/46) of the intestinal samples at an average abundance of 104 copies. Three antibiotics-lincomycin (19.5%), azithromycin (31.2%) and sulfamethoxazole (3.9%)-were found in hepatic samples at average concentrations between 25-31 ng/g. Fish harboring blaCTX-M and those exposed to azithromycin were at greater odds of being downstream of a wastewater treatment plant. Fish that bioconcentrated antibiotics in their liver were not at greater odds of harboring CeRO, CRO, or epidemic carbapenemase gene copies in their resistome. Our findings confirm that fishes can be effective bioindicators of surface waters contaminated with ARB, ARG, and antibiotics. Moreover, our findings highlight the varying importance of different mechanisms that facilitate establishment of ARB in aquatic ecosystems.

The success of Transformer architecture has seen increased interest in machine translation (MT). The translation quality of neural network-based MT transcends that of translations derived using statistical methods. This growth in MT research has entailed the development of accurate automatic evaluation metrics that allow us to track the performance of MT. However, automatically evaluating and comparing MT systems is a challenging task. Several studies have shown that traditional metrics (e.g., BLEU, TER) show poor performance in capturing semantic similarity between MT outputs and human reference translations. To date, to improve performance, various evaluation metrics have been proposed using the Transformer architecture. However, a systematic and comprehensive literature review on these metrics is still missing. Therefore, it is necessary to survey the existing automatic evaluation metrics of MT to enable both established and new researchers to quickly understand the trend of MT evaluation over the past few years. In this survey, we present the trend of automatic evaluation metrics. To better understand the developments in the field, we provide the taxonomy of the automatic evaluation metrics. Then, we explain the key contributions and shortcomings of the metrics. In addition, we select the representative metrics from the taxonomy, and conduct experiments to analyze related problems. Finally, we discuss the limitation of the current automatic metric studies through the experimentation and our suggestions for further research to improve the automatic evaluation metrics.

Mechanical stability of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is crucial to mitigate the capacity fade of lithium–ion batteries because the rupture of the SEI layer results in further consumption of lithium ions in newly generated SEI layers. The SEI is known as a heterogeneous bilayer and consists of an inner inorganic layer connecting the particle and an outer organic layer facing the electrolyte. The growth of the bilayer SEI over cycles alters the stress generation and failure possibility of both the organic and inorganic layers. To investigate the probability of mechanical failure of the bilayer SEI, we developed the electrochemical-mechanical coupled model with the core–double-shell particle/SEI layer model. The growth of the bilayer SEI is considered over cycles. Our results show that during charging, the stress of the particle changes from tensile to compressive as the thickness of bilayer SEI increases. On the other hand, in the SEI layers, large compressive radial and tensile tangential stress are generated. During discharging, the compressive radial stress of the bilayer SEI transforms into tensile radial stress. The tensile tangential and radial stresses are responsible for the fracture and debonding of the bilayer SEI, respectively. As the thickness ratio of the inorganic to organic layers increases, the fracture probability of the inorganic layer increases, while that of the organic layer decreases. However, the debonding probability of both layers is decreased. In addition, the SEI covering large particles is more vulnerable to fracture, while that covering small particles is more susceptible to debonding. Therefore, tailoring the thickness ratio of the inorganic to organic layers and particle size is important to reduce the fracture and debonding of the heterogeneous bilayer SEI.

Cattle farming is considered a major contributor to antibiotic resistant (AR) genes and bacteria in nearby environments, predominantly due to the large amount of manure released by cattle to soils. This study sought to compare soil within and outside of cattle pens from seven farms in the US. Soil microbial community differences are described, as well as differences in AR gene and enteric pathogen concentrations in the soils. Sources of fecal loading are quantified via microbial source tracking (MST) methods. The family Peptostreptococcaceae was more abundant in pen soils, and Rhodanobacteraceae was more abundant in non-pen soils. There were no differences in microbial community diversity between soils within and outside of cattle pens. The MST result showed that ruminant-specific fecal contamination (Rum2Bac) was abundant both in pen and non-pen soils, likely indicating heavy cattle fecal loading. However, the soil within cattle pens had higher levels of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and AR genes for resistance to sulfonamides (sul1) and carbapenems (KPC) than the soil outside of pens (p

Electrochemical stress induced by the charging/discharging of electrode materials strongly affects the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by regulating mechanical failures. Electrochemical stress is caused by a change in the local volume of the active materials associated with the lithium-ion concentration. The local volume change of certain active materials, such as nickel-rich LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC), varies nonlinearly with the lithium content, which has not been considered in the stress calculations in previous studies. In this paper, the influence of nonlinear local volume change on the mechanical response of NMC-active materials is investigated numerically. The goal is achieved by using a concentration-dependent partial molar volume calculated from the previously obtained local volume change experimental results. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model was developed to perform finite element simulations by fully coupling lithium diffusion and stress generation at a single particle level. The numerical results demonstrate that (1) the global volume change of the particle evolves nonlinearly, (2) the stress response correlates with the rate of change of the active particle’s volume, and (3) stress–concentration coupling strongly affects the concentration levels inside the particle. We believe this is the first simulation study that highlights the effect of a concentration-dependent partial molar volume on diffusion-induced stresses in NMC materials. The proposed model provides insight into the design of next-generation NMC electrode materials to achieve better structural stability by reducing mechanical cracking issues.

Downer cow can be caused by muscular paralysis, neurological damage, metabolic disorder, and/or the complication of microbial infection. However, downer cow with unknown etiology is issued because of the non-detection of its bacterial etiological agent. In this study, differences in the bacterial community in brain tissues between downer cattle with unknown etiology and healthy slaughtered cattle are investigated. Bacterial diversity and representative genera between downer and normal cattle were significantly different (p < 0.05). There are significant differences in representative genera of downer and normal cattle, especially the significance, fold change, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve score (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the prediction of functional genes in brain microbiota between the downer and normal cattle revealed differences in the cluster of orthologous gene categories, such as lipid transport and metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and signal transduction (p < 0.05). This study revealed a significant difference in microbiota between the downer and normal cattle. Thus, we demonstrate that representative genera from downer cattle through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and microbiota analysis have the potential as candidates for bacterial etiological agents for downer cow.

Objectives: With the development of the automated treponemal test, new syphilis serodiagnosis algorithms, reverse algorithm, and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) algorithm have been recommended recently. We investigated the efficacy of an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) as an initial screening test in the reverse and ECDC algorithms. Methods: Samples from 4,771 subjects were included in this study. We performed rapid plasma reagin (RPR), ECLIA, and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) according to these three algorithms. The fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-ABS) test was additionally applied for discordant cases between the RPR and ECLIA results. The FTA-ABS results and the consensus of three algorithms were considered a gold standard. Results: A total of 208 subjects were diagnosed with syphilis. The traditional algorithm had a sensitivity of 25.96%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 96.77%. Both the reverse and ECDC algorithms showed the same diagnostic performance, sensitivity of 95.19%, specificity of 99.96%, and accuracy of 99.75%. The agreements between the traditional algorithm and the other algorithms were 96.9% with a kappa value of 0.415. Conclusions: The diagnostic accuracy of the reverse and ECDC algorithms using the ECLIA as a first-line screening test was superior to that of the traditional algorithm. Keywords: Syphilis, Treponema pallidum, Serodiagnosis, Algorithm, Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay

The incidence of eutrophication is increasing due to fertilizer abuse and global warming. Eutrophication can induce the proliferation of cyanobacteria such as Microcystis, which produces microcystins. Microcystins are toxic to specific organs such as the liver and the heart. Thus, monitoring of microcystins is strongly required to control drinking water and agricultural product qualities. However, microcystins could be adsorbed by plastic materials during sample storage and preparation, hindering accurate analysis. Therefore, the current study examined the recovery rate of microcystins from six plastics used for containers and eight plastics used for membrane filters. Among the six plastics used for containers, polyethylene terephthalate showed the best recovery rate (≥81.3%) for 48 h. However, polypropylene, polystyrene, and high- and low-density polyethylenes showed significant adsorption after exposure for 1 hr. For membrane materials, regenerated cellulose (≥99.3%) showed the highest recovery rate of microcystins, followed by polyvinylidene fluoride (≥94.1%) and polytetrafluoroethylene (≥95.7%). The adsorption of microcystins appeared to be strongly influenced by various molecular interactions, including hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interaction. In addition, microcystins’ functional residues seemed to be critical factors affecting their adsorption by plastic materials. The present study demonstrates that polyethylene terephthalate and regenerated cellulose membrane are suitable plastic materials for the analysis of microcystins.

Freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a major environmental health problem worldwide. HABs are caused by a predominance of cyanobacteria, some of which produce potent toxins. The most ubiquitous cyanotoxin is microcystin (MC) and the congener MC-LR is the most studied due to its toxicity. Short-term exposure to toxins can cause gut microbiome disturbances, but this has not been well described with MC-LR exposure. This study investigated the gut microbial communities of mice from a prior study, which identified significant liver toxicity from ingestion of MC-LR daily for 8 days. CD-1 mice were divided into three dosage groups: control, low exposure (sub-lethal MC-LR concentration), and high exposure (near-lethal MC-LR concentration). Fecal samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results revealed that at population level, there were no significant shifts in bacterial diversity or the microbial community structure over the exposure period. However, there were significant differences between male and female mice. Predictive functional gene analysis indicated that several metabolic pathways were significantly different in the high dose group before exposure and following 7 doses of MC-LR, as well as between the control and high dose groups on Day 8. Significant differentially abundant taxa were also identified contributing to these pathways. Several pathways, including superpathway of N-acetylneuraminate degradation, were related to liver and gut inflammation. The outcome of this study suggests a need for in-depth investigation of metabolic activity and other functions in the gut in future studies, as well as potential consideration of the role of sex in MC-LR toxicity.

Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are saucer-shaped abrasions of a tooth. NCCLs can form due to various etiologies, including toothbrushing wear, acid erosion, and mechanical stress. Owing to this complex interplay, the mechanism of NCCLs in tooth abrasion has not been established. This study aims to develop a numerical method using a computational toothbrush to simulate NCCLs. The forces acting on the teeth and the amount of abrasion generated were evaluated. The discrete element method using in-house code, connected particle model, and Archard wear model were applied for brushing. In the toothbrush model, 42 acrylic tufts were fixed into a toothbrush head. The teeth models with enamel properties comprised four flat plates and two grooves to simulate the anterior teeth and NCCLs. The brushing speed and depth for one cycle were established as simulation parameters. The force applied within the ununiform plane was concentrated on several bristles as the toothbrush passed through the interproximal space. The brushing force (depth) had a greater effect on tooth abrasion than the brushing speed. Toothbrushing abrasion was mainly concentrated in the interproximal space. Therefore, forceful tooth brushing can cause NCCLs from the interproximal space to the cervical area of the tooth.

This study aimed to determine the depositional effect and improve the identification of debris flow risk zones. To accomplish this goal, we developed a two-dimensional debris flow model (Deb2D) based on a hyperbolic conservation form of the mass and the momentum balance equation with consideration of the erosion–entrainment effect as well as the depositional effect. In this model, we implemented a widely-used rheological equation—the Voellmy equation—and a quadtree adaptive grid-based shallow-water equation. This model was applied to two study sites to assess the depositional effect. The impact area, volume of soil loss, maximum velocity, inundated depth, and erosion depth resulting from the debris-flow modeling were compared with the field data. The simulation results with/without deposition were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic method. The implementation results of the erosion–entrainment model with deposition showed superior accuracy when estimating the damage range and flow time.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still has a high mortality rate when it is severe. Regdanvimab (CT-P59), a neutralizing monoclonal antibody that has been proven effective against mild to moderate COVID-19, may be effective against severe COVID-19. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the combined use of remdesivir and regdanvimab in patients with severe COVID-19. Methods: From March to early May 2021, 124 patients with severe COVID-19 were admitted to Ulsan University Hospital (Ulsan, Korea) and received oxygen therapy and remdesivir. Among them, 25 were also administered regdanvimab before remdesivir. We retrospectively compared the clinical outcomes between the remdesivir alone group [n = 99 (79.8%)] and the regdanvimab/remdesivir group [n = 25 (20.2%)]. Results: The oxygen-free days on day 28 (primary outcome) were significantly higher in the regdanvimab/remdesivir group [mean ± SD: 19.36 ± 7.87 vs. 22.72 ± 3.66, p = 0.003]. The oxygen-free days was also independently associated with use of regdanvimab in the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for initial pulse oximetric saturation (SpO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio (severity index). Further, in the regdanvimab/remdesivir group, the lowest SpO2/FiO2 ratio during treatment was significantly higher (mean ± SD: 237.05 ± 89.68 vs. 295.63 ± 72.74, p = 0.003), and the Kaplan-Meier estimates of oxygen supplementation days in surviving patients (on day 28) were significantly shorter [mean ± SD: 8.24 ± 7.43 vs. 5.28 ± 3.66, p = 0.024]. Conclusions: In patients with severe COVID-19, clinical outcomes can be improved by administering regdanvimab, in addition to remdesivir.

The rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is an essential aspect in the detection and control of the spread of COVID-19. We evaluated the accuracy of the rapid antigen test (RAT) using samples from the nasal cavity and nasopharynx based on sample collection timing and viral load. We enrolled 175 patients, of which 71 patients and 104 patients had tested positive and negative, respectively, based on real time-PCR. Nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal swab samples were tested using STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag tests (Q Ag, SD Biosensor, Korea). The sensitivity of the Q Ag test was 77.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.8–87.2%) for the nasal cavity and 81.7% (95% [CI, 72.7–90.7%) for the nasopharyngeal specimens. The RAT results showed a substantial agreement between the nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal specimens (Cohen’s kappa index = 0.78). The sensitivity of the RAT for nasal cavity specimens exceeded 89% for E and RdRp < 25. The Q Ag test performed fairly well, especially in the early DSO when a high viral load was present, and the nasal cavity swab can be considered an alternative site for the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming ubiquitous in many applications, serverless computing is also emerging as a building block for developing cloud-based AI services. Serverless computing has received much interest because of its simplicity, scalability, and resource efficiency. However, due to the trade-off with resource efficiency, serverless computing suffers from the cold start problem, that is, a latency between a request arrival and function execution. The cold start problem significantly influences the overall response time of workflow that consists of functions because the cold start may occur in every function within the workflow. Function fusion can be one of the solutions to mitigate the cold start latency of a workflow. If two functions are fused into a single function, the cold start of the second function is removed; however, if parallel functions are fused, the workflow response time can be increased because the parallel functions run sequentially even if the cold start latency is reduced. This study presents an approach to mitigate the cold start latency of a workflow using function fusion while considering a parallel run. First, we identify three latencies that affect response time, present a workflow response time model considering the latency, and efficiently find a fusion solution that can optimize the response time on the cold start. Our method shows a response time of 28–86% of the response time of the original workflow in five workflows.