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Objective Religious behaviors are considered as complex brain-based phenomena that may be associated with structural brain change. To identify the pattern of regional brain volume change in nuns, we investigated structural alterations in the brains of nuns using a fast processing automated segmentation method based on deep learning algorithms.Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the catholic sisters between the ages of 31 and 80 who are members of the charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Korea. A total of 193 asymptomatic subjects (86 nuns and 107 control subjects) received comprehensive health screening and underwent brain MRI scans. We compared cortical and sub-cortical volume between groups across multiple locations using our in-house U-Net++ deep learning-based automatic segmentation tool.Results Compared to the control group, the nun group displayed increased gray matter volume in the right lingual cortex, left isthmus-cingulate, posterior-cingulate, rostral-middle-frontal, superior-frontal, supramarginal, temporal-pole cortices, and bilateral pars-triangularis cortices after correction for multiple comparisons. On the other hand, the nun group showed reduced gray matter volume in the temporal and parietal regions relative to healthy controls.Conclusion Our study suggests that spiritual practice may affect brain structure, especially in several frontal regions involved in a higher level of insight function.

The morphogenetically matured spermatozoa (sperm) are generated in the testes by the spermatogenesis. They travel male reproductive tract with many substances secreted from the accessory reproductive organs. One of the substances is the semenogelin (SEMG) released from the seminal vesicles that is involved in the post-testicular maturation. The expression of SEMG gene was investigated in seminal vesicle tissues of sexually matured and regressed male Syrian hamsters by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The SEMG gene was uniquely identified in the seminal vesicles of the matured Syrian hamsters and compared to the genes reported previously. But the expression of SEMG gene was not observed in reproductively and completely regressed testes of Syrian hamsters. These results indicate that the expressions of the SEMG gene are related to the reproductive capability in the male Syrian hamsters.

Background: Although some studies have reported significant reductions in food cravings following the single-session of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), there is little research on the effects of multi-session of rTMS on food consumption and body weight in obese subjects. Objective: We conducted 4-week randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel-group trial to examine the effect of rTMS on body weight in obese adults. Methods: Forty-three obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2) aged between 18 and 70 years were randomized to the sham or real treatment group (21 in the TMS group and 22 in the sham treatment group). A total of 8 sessions of rTMS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was provided over a period of 4 weeks. The primary outcome measure was weight change in kilograms from baseline to 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints included changes in anthropometric measures, cardiovascular risk factors, food intake, and appetite. Results: Participants in the rTMS group showed significantly greater weight loss from baseline following the 8 session of rTMS (−2.75 ± 2.37 kg vs. 0.38 ± 1.0 kg, p

Asphaltenes, precipitated from oil due to pressure, temperature, or oil compositional changes, can affect not only the performance of CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR), but also carbon capture and storage (CCS) by reducing porosity and permeability and altering wettability. A comprehensive solid deposition model, which includes adsorption, pore throat plugging, and re-entrainment, was developed to predict the amount of precipitated asphaltene under dynamic conditions. In this study, a hysteretic three-phase fluid flow model was used to simulate residual and solubility trapping during the water alternating gas (WAG) process. Alteration of rock wettability during asphaltene deposition led to a decrease in oil and gas mobility and an increase in water mobility, increasing the amount of CO2 residual trapping to 39%, via a hysteresis effect. Residual trapped CO2 replaced liquids in the pore space; more water was substituted when asphaltene deposition was considered than that without it because of greater water mobility. Consequentially solubility and residual trapping were overestimated by 20% and underestimated by 39% when asphaltene deposition was not considered. Formation damage by asphaltene deposition increased water production by 14% and decreased oil recovery by 9% compared to a model without asphaltene deposition. These results indicate that asphaltene deposition affects CO2 trapping mechanisms and EOR performance during coupled CO2 EOR and storage processes.

Growing evidences show that gut microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the gut-brain axis can be promising target for the development of the therapeutic strategies for PD. Acupuncture has been used to improve brain functions and inflammation in neurological disorders such as PD, and to recover the gastrointestinal dysfunctions in various gastrointestinal disorders. Thus, we investigated whether acupuncture could improve Parkinsonism and gut microbial dysbiosis induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. First, we observed that acupuncture treatment at acupoints GB34 and ST36 could improve motor functions and comorbid anxiety in PD mice. Next, we found that acupuncture increased the levels of dopaminergic fibers and neurons in the striatum and the substantia nigra, respectively. Acupuncture also restored the overexpression of microglia and astrocyte as well as conversion of Bax and Bcl-2 expression in both the striatum and the substantia nigra, indicating that inflammatory responses and apoptosis were blocked by acupuncture. Additionally, via 16S rRNA sequence analysis, we observed that the relative abundance of 18 genera were changed in acupuncture-treated mice compared to the PD mice. Of them, Butyricimonas, Holdemania, Frisingicoccus, Gracilibacter, Phocea, and Aestuariispira showed significant correlations with anxiety as well as motor functions. Furthermore, the predicted functional analyses showed that acupuncture restored the physiology functions such as glutathione metabolism, methane metabolism, and PD pathway. In conclusion, we suggest that the effects of acupuncture on the enhanced motor function and the protection of the dopaminergic neurons may be associated with the regulation of the gut microbial dysbiosis and thus the inhibition of the neuroinflammation in the PD mice.

ITU-R recommends a global rain-attenuation prediction model for satellite link, but it lacks a physical meaning because it is an empirical model and the effective path-length model is frequency dependent. In this letter, a global effective path-length model, which can be used for total attenuation prediction in a satellite link, is proposed. The proposed model is a physical model based on the rain-cell concept. The test for the proposed model was performed against the data in the ITU-R SG3 DB, using the procedures in the recommendation ITU-R P. 311 and the Fascicle. The test results show that the prediction error of the proposed model is less than the existing ITU-R model. In addition, the proposed model is a physical model and simple compared to the current ITU-R model.

The addition of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the CO2 stream reduces interfacial tension (IFT) between the injected gas and the reservoir oil, and it changes the gas-liquid relative permeability...

Background: Although some studies have reported significant reductions in food cravings following repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), none have examined changes in body weight. Objective: We conducted 2-week randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel-group trial to examine the effect of rTMS on body weight in obese patients. Methods: Sixty obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2) aged between 18 and 65 years were recruited. A total of 4 sessions of rTMS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was provided over a period of 2 weeks, with a follow-up assessment conducted two weeks after treatment had finished. The primary outcome measure was weight change in kilograms from baseline to 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints included changes in anthropometric measures, cardiovascular risk factors, food intake, and appetite. Results: Of the 60 volunteers, 57 completed the 4-week follow-up (29 in the TMS group and 28 in the sham treatment group). Participants in the rTMS group showed significantly greater weight loss from baseline following the 4 session of rTMS (p = 0.002). Consistent with weight loss, there was a significant reduction in BMI, fat mass and VAT at week 4 in the rTMS group compared with the control group (p

Although gallium-based liquid metals are attracting growing interest thanks to its potential applications in deformable, flexible electronic devices, challenges in fabrication associated with the high surface tension and oxide skin remain to be overcome. We report a novel fabrication technique for liquid metal circuits using dewetting. An excessively thin liquid film spontaneously shrinks on a substrate to reduce surface free energy. In the case of a thin liquid metal film on a substrate with microgrooves, the oxide on the microgroove wall and the additional viscous resistance delay the shrinkage in the grooves, which separates the liquid volume inside the microgrooves from the external volume. Utilizing this mechanism, we successfully produced 20- $\mu \text{m}$ -thick conductive lines of eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) on polydimethylsiloxane. This fabrication technique is simple, fast, and cost-effective and requires no top covering layer. The resultant metal lines show potentially applicable electrical resistance to flexible and stretchable electronic devices. [2017-0082]

Researches on Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) have been conducted worldwide owing to its outstanding durability and strength performances compared to those of normal concrete. The application of UHPC to prestressed concrete structures, which may seem to be the most appropriate and beneficial, may result significant improvement in the design of anchorage zones due to its high compressive and tensile strength. The size of anchorage blocks and amounts of reinforcements may be reduced drastically. This paper examines the stress magnitudes and distributions of post-tensioned anchorage zones using UHPC which have nominal compressive strength levels of 120, 150 and 180 MPa respectively, by FE analysis. The analytic results are verified with the existing experimental work of 180MPa UHPC. It can be concluded that the use of UHPC to post-tensioned members gives significant reduction of anchorage zone size and no reinforcements are required.

Although research on CO2 injection in shale gas reservoirs has been focused for enhanced gas recovery (EGR) and CO2 storage, previous studies have not examined both multi-component transport and geomechanical effects. Therefore, this study presents new shale gas models for CO2 injection considering multi-component adsorption, dissolution, molecular diffusion, and stress-dependent compaction. Based on these mechanisms and data for Barnett shale field, a simulation model was constructed for CO2 flooding and huff and puff. The proposed model was used to examine the effects of CO2 injection to EGR and CO2 storage and various mechanisms. The results presented that CO2 flooding and huff and puff improve CH4 production by 24% and 6% respectively compared with no injection scenario. At the end of simulated time, the injected CO2 is stored as free, adsorbed, and dissolved states in proportions of 42%, 55%, and 3% respectively. To confirm these results, Marcellus and New Albany shale models, which have different reservoir properties, are generated and compared with Barnett shale model. However, in Marcellus and New Albany shale models, effects of CO2 injection are lower than that of Barnett shale model. Therefore, to investigate factors affecting to the efficiency of CO2 injection in shale gas reservoirs, extensive simulations were performed. Results of the simulation analyses show that natural fracture permeability, hydraulic fracture half-length, well spacing, and Langmuir constants are significant factors for EGR and CO2 storage. For the real applications, these parameters should be mainly considered. The investigations performed in this study present better understanding of CO2 injection processes to EGR and CO2 storage and they are important for optimizing the designs of CO2 injection in field applications.

By incorporating a temperature-dependent biokinetic and thermal model, the novel method, cold-water microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR), was developed under nonisothermal conditions. The suggested model characterized the growth for Bacillus subtilis (microbe) and Surfactin (biosurfactant) that were calibrated and confirmed against the experimental results. Several biokinetic parameters were obtained within approximately a 2% error using the cardinal temperature model and experimental results. According to the obtained parameters, the examination was conducted with several injection scenarios for a high-temperature reservoir of 71 &deg, C. The results proposed the influences of injection factors including nutrient concentration, rate, and temperature. Higher nutrient concentrations resulted in decreased interfacial tension by producing Surfactin. On the other hand, injection rate and temperature changed growth condition for Bacillus subtilis. An optimal value of injection rate suggested that it affected not only heat transfer but also nutrient residence time. Injection temperature led to optimum reservoir condition for Surfactin production, thereby reducing interfacial tension. Through the optimization process, the determined optimal injection design improved oil recovery up to 53% which is 8% higher than waterflooding. The proposed optimal injection design was an injection sucrose concentration of 100 g/L, a rate of 7 m3/d, and a temperature of 19 &deg, C.

Shale gas reservoirs have ultra-low matrix permeability and consist of matrix and natural fracture systems. Horizontal wells with hydraulic fractures are necessary to economically exploit shale gas reservoirs. Due to these complex features of shale gas reservoirs, understanding pressure transient characteristics is of importance. Through coupling of flow and geomechanical models for well/reservoir/hydraulic fracture systems, a new approach has been established to predict the pressure transient behavior and to generate type curves. To account for geomechanical effects with stress dependent permeability, linear elastic geomechanical models and two stress dependent permeability correlations, exponential and power law correlations, from previous experimental researches were implemented in the reservoir model. A number of cases considering a geomechanical model, exponential correlation, and power law correlation were compared. These processes showed roughly a 1–5% variation of productivity in shale gas reservoirs. Based on the extensive numerical simulations with the updated model, a series of type curves were developed in terms of dimensionless pseudopressure and derivative of dimensionless pseudopressure versus dimensionless time considering various reservoir and fracture properties. Using the type curves as a guide, we then presented flow regimes that are expected for different values of geomechanical properties, number of fractures, length of the fractures, spacing between fractures, and properties of stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). Using the characteristics of new dimensionless parameters and the developed type-curve set, a simple and practical procedure was presented to estimate reservoir properties in multi-fractured horizontal wells. Application of type curve matching to synthetic data was shown to be useful in estimating effective fracture and matrix permeability and porosity. A history match of a field example in Barnett Shale data indicates that the model with stress-dependent properties matches the actual production data better than the model with constant properties. This study provides insight into the characteristics of a hydraulically-fractured horizontal well, and the newly developed type curves yield more unique and accurate results.

Once asphaltenes have been precipitated from oil due to pressure, temperature, or oil composition changes, they can affect reservoir performance by reducing porosity and permeability and altering wettability. Moreover, they can cause plugging of wellbore and surface production facilities. The addition of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) into the CO 2 stream during CO 2 flooding reduces oil viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT), and oil swelling, resulting in improved displacement efficiency, but also causes asphaltene precipitation because of a change in oil composition. When toluene is introduced into the LPG and CO 2 stream to overcome the limitations of a CO 2 -LPG flood, it acts as an inhibitor of asphaltene precipitation. This research systematically examines the mechanism of asphaltene precipitation and how to mitigate problems associated with asphaltene deposition based on compositional simulations. Solid deposition model that included adsorption, pore throat plugging, and re-entrainment was considered. A compositional equation of state (EOS) model was developed to analyze the effects of LPG and toluene on asphaltene deposition and formation damage. At the center of reservoir, the amount of asphaltene deposition reached the maximum for 10% LPG-added CO 2 -LPG flooding, which was 12% higher than that from CO 2 flooding. When 1% toluene was added into the CO 2 -LPG flood, the amount of asphaltene deposited declined by 2%. Oil resistance factor had the same tendency because of porosity reduction due to decreased deposition of asphaltene. Oil recovery for the CO 2 -LPG flood was enhanced by 4% compared to the CO 2 flood, despite an increment in asphaltene deposition, and by 9% for the CO 2 -LPG-toluene flood. Results from this study indicate that LPG addition causes increased asphaltene deposition, which can be mitigated by using toluene as an inhibitor.

The spermatogenesis is the process by which spermatozoa are generated in the testes. The spermatozoa travel male reproductive tract during which they meet many substances secreted from reproductive organs. One of the substances is epididymal protease inhibitor (EPPIN) that is involved in the post-testicular maturation including capability of fertilizing the eggs. The expression of EPPIN gene was investigated in various tissues of sexually mature and regressed male Syrian hamsters by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The EPPIN gene was identified in the testis and epididymis of the male Syrian hamsters and compared to the genes reported previously. There was no expression of EPPIN gene in reproductively and completely regressed testes of Syrian hamster. These results suggest that the expressions of the EPPIN gene are associated with the reproductive capability in the Syrian hamsters.

We present a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of dewetting on substrates with parallel microgrooves. A thin, static liquid film has an equilibrium thickness so as to minimize the sum of the surface free energy and the gravitational potential energy. When the thickness of a liquid film is less than the equilibrium thickness, the film seeks the equilibrium through contraction of the wetted area, which is referred to as dewetting. We experimentally observed the dewetting of thin, metastable liquid films on substrates with parallel microgrooves. The experiments revealed that the films retract in the direction along the grooves and leaves liquid residues with various morphologies. We classify the residue morphologies into three modes and elucidate the dependence of the mode selection on the groove geometry and the equilibrium contact angle of the liquid. We also experimentally examined the dynamic motion of the receding contact lines of the dewetting films, and developed a mechanical model for the receding speed. Our results provide a basis for controlling liquid films using microstructures, which is useful for lubricant-impregnated surface production, painting, spray cooling, and surface cleaning.

The viability of carbon capture sequestration (CCS) is dependent on the secure storage of CO2 in subsurface geologic formations. Geomechanical failure of caprock is one of the main reasons of CO2 leakage from the storage formations. Through comprehensive assessment on the petrophysical and geomechanical heterogeneities of caprock, it is possible to predict the risk of unexpected caprock failure. To describe the fracture reactivation, the modified Barton–Bandis model is applied. In order to generate hydro-geomechanically heterogeneous fields, the negative correlation between porosity and Young’s modulus/Poisson’s ratio is applied. In comparison with the homogeneous model, effects of heterogeneity are examined in terms of vertical deformation and the amount of leaked CO2. To compare the effects of heterogeneity, heterogeneous models for both geomechanical and petrophysical properties in coupled simulation are designed. After 10-year injection with petrophysically heterogeneous and geomechanically homogeneous caprock, CO2 leakage is larger than that of the homogeneous model. In contrast, heterogeneity of geomechanical properties is shown to mitigate additional escape of CO2. Vertical displacement of every heterogeneous model is larger than homogeneous model. The model with compressive tectonic stress shows much more stable trapping with heterogeneous caprock, but there is possibility of rapid leakage after homogeneous caprock failure.

멀티미디어 기술은 최근 몇 년 동안 상당한 발전이 있었다인터넷을 통해 오디오동영상이미지와 같은 멀티미디어를 전송하는 것이 이제 아주 보편화 되었다그러나 인터넷은 안전하지 못한 채널로 보안적인 측면에서 많은 문제들을 가지고 있다또한 데이터 복제를 할 수 있는 기기가 보편화 된 이후 멀티미디어 콘텐츠 이용자의 저작권에 대한 인식부족으로 인해 멀티미디어 콘텐츠의 불법복제 문제는 날이 갈수록 심각해지고 있다인터넷과 같은 비보안 채널 상에서 멀티미디어 데이터의 안전성과 기밀성을 획득하기 위해 많은 암호기술이 제안되어왔다특히 영상을 암호화하기 위한 가장 간단한 방법은 의사 난수열을 이용하여 기저영상을 만든 후 기저영상과 원 영상의 픽셀값을 연산을 취해 원 영상의 픽셀값을 변화시키는 것이다이러한 방법으로 영상을 암호화하는 경우하드웨어의 구현이 용이하고 암호화 속도가 빠른 장점이 있다 셀룰라 오토마타 이하 란 이산 시간의 동적 시스템으로 셀이라는 기본 단위 메모리의 배열로 이루어진다이 시스템에서 셀의 다음 상태는 자기 자신과 인접한 두 셀의 상태에 의해 정해진 규칙에 의해 갱신된다이러한 는 간단하고규칙적이며작은 단위로 확장 연결할 수 있는 구조이기 때문에 하드웨어 구현에 알맞다 가장 간단한 구조를 가지는 차원 는 모든 셀이 선형으로 배열되어 있고 의 상태전이에 적용되는 규칙의 종류에 따라 선형 와 비선형 로 나뉜다또한 의 모든 상태에 대하여 이전상태가 존재하는 를 그룹 라 하고 그룹 는 셀들이 일

Primary extradural meningioma is about 1-2% of all meningiomas. Primary intraosseous meningioma is a rare form of intra-bone tumors that account for approximately 67% of extradural meningiomas. We report a primary intraosseous meningioma of a 69-year-old man who had headaches and a mass on right parietal scalp for the past few months. Remarkably, the brain tissue within the osteolytic cavity of the skull was normal in computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. Resection, duraplasty, and cranioplasty were performed. The patient's symptoms disappeared after surgery, and the histological diagnosis was an osseous meningothelial meningioma (World Health Organization grade I).