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AMoRE is an international project to search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo using a detection technology consisting of magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs) and molybdenum-based scintillating crystals. Data collection has begun for the current AMORE-I phase of the project, an upgrade from the previous pilot phase. AMoRE-I employs thirteen $^\mathrm{48depl.}$Ca$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals and five Li$_2$$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals for a total crystal mass of 6.2 kg. Each detector module contains a scintillating crystal with two MMC channels for heat and light detection. We report the present status of the experiment and the performance of the detector modules., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, published in Journal of Low Temperature Physics (2022)

SETTING: Multicentre retrospective study in South Korea.OBJECTIVE: To longitudinally evaluate changes in lung volume and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1).DESIGN: A total of 155 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whose pulmonary function parameters were measured annually for 5 years, were selected from a prospective cohort in South Korea. A random coefficients model was used to estimate mean annual FEV1, lung volume parameter and DLCO change rates.RESULTS: Patients were classified into four groups based on baseline DLCO and residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) measurements. The annual FEV1 decline rate was greater in patients with low DLCO than in those with normal DLCO, with the greatest decline occurring in patients with low DLCO and normal RV/TLC. RV and RV/TLC declined in patients with high RV/TLC, whereas these increased in patients with normal RV/TLC. DLCO decreased longitudinally in all four groups, with the greatest decline occurring in patients with normal DLCO and normal RV/TLC.CONCLUSIONS: Different subgroups of patients with COPD exhibited distinctive pulmonary function change patterns. Baseline DLCO and RV/TLC may be used as physiological markers to predict long-term changes in pulmonary function.

In this study, a numerical approach for automotive louvered fin heat exchanger is carried out to investigate the effect of louvered angle on the heat transfer characteristics. The numerical simulation code STAR-CCM+ is utilized to calculate flow and temperature fields with polyhedral meshes. The results show that the flow efficiency is increased as the louver angle is high. Also, the outlet temperatures are nearly the same according to louver angles because the average Nusselt numbers are nearly equivalent regardless of louver angle.

SETTING: Multicentre retrospective study in South Korea.OBJECTIVE: To longitudinally evaluate changes in lung volume and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1).DESIGN: A total of 155 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whose pulmonary function parameters were measured annually for 5 years, were selected from a prospective cohort in South Korea. A random coefficients model was used to estimate mean annual FEV1, lung volume parameter and DLCO change rates.RESULTS: Patients were classified into four groups based on baseline DLCO and residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) measurements. The annual FEV1 decline rate was greater in patients with low DLCO than in those with normal DLCO, with the greatest decline occurring in patients with low DLCO and normal RV/TLC. RV and RV/TLC declined in patients with high RV/TLC, whereas these increased in patients with normal RV/TLC. DLCO decreased longitudinally in all four groups, with the greatest decline occurring in patients with normal DLCO and normal RV/TLC.CONCLUSIONS: Different subgroups of patients with COPD exhibited distinctive pulmonary function change patterns. Baseline DLCO and RV/TLC may be used as physiological markers to predict long-term changes in pulmonary function.

7nm CMOS FinFET technology featuring EUV lithography, 4th gen. dual Fin and 2nd gen. multi-eWF gate stack is presented, providing 20% faster speed or consuming 35% less total power over 10nm technology [1]. EUV lithography, fully applied to MOL contacts and minimum-pitched metal/via interconnects, can reduce >25% mask steps with higher fidelity and smaller CD variation. A VT of 6T HD SRAM cell are 1.29 for PD (PG) and 1.34 for PU, respectively.

Aluminum clad sheets for brazing materials in the automotive heat exchangers are required to exhibit both high strength and excellent erosion resistance. In this study, the effects of microstructural changes on the property of clad sheets due to thermomechanical treatment were investigated. The clad sheets were fabricated by roll bonding of twin-roll-cast AA3527 and AA4343 alloys followed by cold rolling down to a thickness of 0.22mm. Partial or full annealing was conducted at the final thickness in order to improved the erosion resistance while keeping the proper strength. Since full annealing was achieved for a temperature of 400°C, annealing treatments were performed at 360, 380, and 400°C, respectively. The tensile strength of 3527/4343 clad material was found to be inversely proportional to the annealing temperature before the brazing heat treatment. After this latter treatment, however, the tensile strength of the clad material was about 195~200MPa regardless of the annealing temperature. The erosion depth ratio of the clad annealed at 400°C was 8.8% (the lowest), while that of the clad annealed at 380°C was 17% (the highest). The effect of annealing temperature on the tensile and erosion properties of 3527/4343 aluminum clad sheets was elucidated by means of microstructural analyses.

Closure of a bronchopleural fistula is required to prevent fatal empyema or aspiration pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of bronchial occlusion with a self-expandable occluder to induce experimental lung collapse in a rabbit model.10 bronchial occluders (wine glass appearance; 8 mm in diameter and 15 mm in length) were implanted in the native left main bronchi of 10 rabbits via an endotracheal route. We analysed the following: (1) diameters and morphological changes of the bronchial occluders during follow-up; (2) percentage volume of the collapsed lung during follow-up; and (3) complications and gross pathology. 1-day and 2-week follow-up CT scans were routinely obtained. Rabbits were sacrificed 4 weeks after the experiment.In all 10 rabbits, the bronchial occluders were successfully implanted and were completely expanded within 2 weeks. Complete collapse of the left lung occurred in three rabbits on day 1 and in an additional two rabbits 2 weeks following implantation. Two other rabbits maintained the percentage volume of the collapsed lung between 51% and 99% during follow-up; the other three rabbits had50% during follow-up. Pneumothoraces occurred in nine rabbits, but completely resolved at the 2-week follow-up. Right lung herniation across the midline progressed 2 weeks after occluder implantation.Placement of self-expandable occluders in a rabbit bronchus model was feasible and showed a potential to induce artificial lung collapse. While pneumothoraces were common, they resolved during follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale, which are predictors of mortality. OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of increased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in COPD patients without resting hypoxaemia, and to characterise COPD patients with increased PAP. DESIGN: A study of 117 COPD patients from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) cohort who had measurable tricuspid regurgitant flow under transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and no resting hypoxaemia. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 67 years. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) was 47% predicted, mean haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was 145 g/l and mean systolic PAP (sPAP) was 33 mmHg. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that Hb was the only factor independently associated with sPAP (beta = ―1.752, P = 0.005). Cluster analysis using FEV 1 % predicted, sPAP and Hb concentration as variables indicated three patient clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 36; mean FEV 1 44% predicted, mean sPAP 39 mmHg, mean Hb 132 g/l), Cluster 2 (n = 45; FEV 1 35% predicted, sPAP 31 mmHg, Hb 154 g/l), and Cluster 3 (n = 36; FEV 1 65% predicted, sPAP 29 mmHg, Hb 148 g/l). CONCLUSION: Elevated PAP was linked to low haemoglobin levels in COPD without resting hypoxaemia.

In children, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) to forced vital capacity (FVC) is reportedly constant or falls linearly with age, whereas the ratio of residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC) remains constant. This seems counter-intuitive given the changes in airway properties, body proportions, thoracic shape and respiratory muscle function that occur during growth. The age dependence of lung volumes, FEV 1 /FVC and RV/TLC were studied in children worldwide. Spirometric data were available for 22,412 healthy youths (51.4% male) aged 4–20 yrs from 15 centres, and RV and TLC data for 2,253 youths (56.7% male) from four centres; three sets included sitting height (SH). Data were fitted as a function of age, height and SH. In childhood, FVC outgrows TLC and FEV 1 , leading to falls in FEV 1 /FVC and RV/TLC; these trends are reversed in adolescence. Taking into account SH materially reduces differences in pulmonary function within and between ethnic groups. The highest FEV 1 /FVC ratios occur in those shortest for their age. When interpreting lung function test results, the changing pattern in FEV 1 /FVC and RV/TLC should be considered. Prediction equations for children and adolescents should take into account sex, height, age, ethnic group, and, ideally, also SH.

We report two cases of deep tracheal laceration in female patients after balloon dilation for benign tracheobronchial stenosis. Immediate post-procedure bronchoscopy and CT including 3D reconstructions showed deep lacerations in the posterior tracheal wall. Clinically, the patients' dyspnoea subsided and there has been no recurrence during follow-up after balloon dilation. On the follow-up 3D-reconstructed CT scans obtained 2 months and 8 months following balloon dilation, respectively, the lacerations had healed completely and there was considerable improvement in lumen size.

Exacerbations contribute substantially to the morbidity and mortality associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).To assess whether prophylactic antibiotic treatment reduces exacerbations in patients with COPD and/or chronic bronchitis.Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Koreamed and references from relevant publications were searched up to October 2011. Randomised controlled trials comparing the effect of any prophylactic antibiotics with placebo for at least 3 months were included. The co-primary outcomes were the frequency of exacerbations of COPD or chronic bronchitis and adverse treatment events.A total of 19 trials involving 3932 subjects were included in the analysis: 5 recent trials included patients with moderate to severe COPD, whereas 14 older trials included patients with chronic bronchitis. The use of antibiotics significantly reduced the rate of COPD exacerbations (risk ratio [RR] 0.73, 95%CI 0.66-0.82), the number of chronic bronchitis exacerbations (standardised mean difference -0.23, 95%CI -0.35--0.11) and the proportion of patients with exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (RR 0.93, 95%CI 0.87-0.99).Prophylactic antibiotic treatment has a significant effect in reducing exacerbations in patients with COPD and/or chronic bronchitis.

Korea is an intermediate-burden country with high rates of tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance.To evaluate the performance of the GenoType® MTBDRplus (MTBDR) assay in diagnosing drug-resistant TB in routine practice in Korea.The MTBDR assay was performed on 428 samples, and the results were retrospectively compared with the results of conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST). The interval between treatment and diagnosis of drug resistance was also compared.The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the MTBDR assay were respectively 96.6%, 98.9%, 93.4% and 99.5% for the detection of rifampicin (RMP) resistance; 93.8%, 98.3%, 92.7% and 98.6% for isoniazid (INH) resistance; and 91.1%, 99.2%, 99.4% and 98.7% for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). The median interval between the start of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy and the reporting of results was 88.9 days for conventional DST and 19.8 days for MTBDR using clinical specimens.The specificity of the MTBDR assay in detecting MDR-TB was very high, although the sensitivity in detecting INH resistance and MDR-TB was not optimal (95%). Although the turnaround time in detecting drug resistance was dramatically reduced with MTBDR compared to conventional DST, more effort is needed to shorten the turnaround time.

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) test can be used to distinguish between tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease, but a high background TB infection rate may pose a problem. Although the QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) test, the first-generation QFT-G test, employs a non-specific PPD antigen, avium sensitin is also used as a stimulating antigen.To evaluate the utility of these two interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs), QFT-G and QFT, and the tuberculin skin test (TST), to differentiate TB from Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease in an intermediate TB burden country.We compared the diagnostic performance of these three tests in 38 prospectively enrolled patients with TB and 40 with MAC lung disease.The TST yielded positive results in 70.6% of TB and 47.5% of MAC patients; the proportions were respectively 89.5% and 34.3% for QFT-G and 86.8% and 35.3% for QFT. The three tests were of similar accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing TB.Our findings indicate that the TST and IGRAs could not discriminate between active TB and MAC disease or latent TB infection in a TB-endemic area.

Setting Eleven referring hospitals in South Korea. Objective To compare therapeutic responses in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subgroups, classified by diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL(CO)) and lung volume. Design A total of 130 stable male COPD patients were classified into four subgroups according to baseline DL(CO) and residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) ratio. We compared therapeutic responses to short acting β(2)-agonist (SABA) and 3-month combined inhalation of long-acting β(2)-agonist (LABA) and corticosteroid among patients with these subgroups. Results Among the 130 COPD patients, 41 (31.5%) had normal DL(CO) and RV/TLC, 28 (21.5%) low DL(CO) and normal RV/TLC, 31 (23.8%) normal DL(CO) and high RV/TLC, and 30 (23.1%) low DL(CO) and high RV/TLC. The normal DL(CO)/high RV/TLC subgroup showed a significantly larger flow response (changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s) to salbutamol than the normal DL(CO)/RV/TLC subgroups, and a larger volume response (changes in forced vital capacity) than the two normal RV/TLC subgroups. The normal DL(CO)/high RV/TLC subgroup also showed significantly larger flow and volume response to 3-month combined inhalation of LABA and corticosteroid than the two normal RV/TLC subgroups. Conclusion COPD subgroups classified by DL(CO) and RV/TLC may have different pulmonary function responses to pharmacological treatment.

South Korea, 2005-2007.Non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases presenting as solitary pulmonary nodules (NTM-SPN) are rare and may be misdiagnosed as tuberculoma.Eleven NTM-SPN patients were enrolled retrospectively and compared with two groups each of 33 patients with upper lobe cavitary (UC) and nodular bronchiectatic (NB) type NTM diseases, respectively.The patients' median age was 52 years. Compared with UC-type disease, NTM-SPN patients showed female (n = 9) and never smoker (n = 8) predominance and fewer comorbidities (n = 0; P0.05 for each). Mycobacterium avium (n = 9) was predominant in NTM-SPN patients, followed by M. intracellulare (n = 2), whereas M. intracellulare was most frequently isolated from patients with both UC- and NB-type NTM (P0.05). The nodules were a median of 2.3 cm in diameter (range 1.6-6.3 cm) and were distributed evenly in all lobes. In all patients, percutaneous needle aspiration/biopsy was performed with a median 71 days of diagnostic delay. Ten patients successfully completed treatment, and one showed spontaneous reduction of nodule size without treatment. Reverse blot hybridisation assays of six DNA samples identified four subjects with M.avium-intracellulare complex (MAC), in line with conventional test data.NTM-SPN was caused exclusively by MAC. Although clinical outcome was favourable, confirmatory diagnosis was delayed. Molecular methods are needed for early diagnosis of NTM-SPN.

To evaluate the value of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) assay and chest computed tomography (CT), in addition to the conventional use of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and chest radiography (CXR), in a contact investigation of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak.In a contact investigation of a TB outbreak in a high school, TST and CXR were performed on all 1044 employees and students. QFT-G was performed on TST-positive subjects, and CT on QFT-G-positive subjects and students with TSTor =20 mm.TST was positive in 388 subjects (37.2%), while QFT-G was positive in 7.6% (30/394). CXR showed abnormal findings suggestive of TB in 10 (1.0%) subjects, all of whom were TST-positive and six of whom were QFT-G-positive. Findings suggestive of active TB were noted in 17 (32.7%) of 52 subjects by CT. Collectively, among 21 (1.1%) TB patients, all were TST-positive, 12 (57.1%) were QFT-G-positive and active TB was diagnosed by CT, and not by CXR, in 11 subjects.Compared to the conventional approach, the additional use of QFT-G in TST-positive subjects and chest CT in subgroups with a high probability of infection was found to be more effective in the differentiation between active TB, latent TB and non-infected subjects in a contact investigation.

To evaluate the efficacy of unipedicular kyphoplasty in the treatment of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, we compared the pre- and postoperative clinical and radiological results in the unipedicular and bipedicular kyphoplasty groups. The clinical and radiological results of unipedicular kyphoplasty were as good as those of bipedicular kyphoplasty.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of unipedicular kyphoplasty in the treatment of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We compared the pre- and postoperative compression ratios (CRs), kyphotic angles (KAs), and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the patients in the unipedicular and bipedicular kyphoplasty groups. The results showed that the clinical and radiological results of unipedicular kyphoplasty were as good as those of bipedicular kyphoplasty. Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty is a therapeutic option for patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Due to the relatively high-risk nature of the patient population, complications such as myocardial events, seizures, agitation, or dyspnea may occur and render completion of the procedure imprudent. We analyzed the clinical and radiological results of unipedicular and bipedicular balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures.We retrospectively reviewed the records of 45 patients who underwent balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of VCFs between January 2005 and April 2008. A unipedicular approach was used in 15 patients and a bipedicular approach was used in 30 patients. The CR, KA, and 100-point VAS score for pain were measured pre- and postoperatively in each patient.There was no significant difference in restoration of the CR (p = 0.376) and KA (p = 0.888) between the unipedicular and bipedicular kyphoplasty groups. The patients in the unipedicular group showed greater improvement in VAS score than those in the bipedicular group (p0.001). There were no postoperative complications, such as nerve injury or pedicle fracture, in either of the two groups.The clinical and radiological results of unipedicular balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of VCFs were as good as those of bipedicular balloon kyphoplasty. Thus, unipedicular balloon kyphoplasty can be used as an alternative treatment for patients with VCFs.

A private university hospital in South Korea.To investigate the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among health care workers (HCWs) employed at a university hospital in South Korea.The occurrence of TB cases among HCWs over a 6-year period (2001-2006) was reviewed. The prevalence of TB was compared with that of the general population using a prevalence ratio (PR) adjusted by age and sex.The study involved 8433 people. TB developed in 61 HCWs (0.72%). The prevalence ratio among all HCWs was 1.05 (95%CI 0.80-1.35). In occupational subgroups, the PRs for doctors, nurses and employees in other departments were respectively 0.58 (95%CI 0.30-1.01), 1.81 (95%CI 1.21-2.59) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.58-1.46). For nurses working in TB-related departments, the relative risk of developing TB was 3.4 times higher (95%CI 1.52-8.25) than for employees in other departments (P=0.005). The PR for nurses working in TB-related department was 5.1 (95%CI 3.23-8.42).Among HCWs, nurses working in TB-related departments were at increased risk of developing TB. This suggests that some TB develops via in-hospital infection.

A 78-year-old man with hypertension and diabetes was referred because of 3 days of diplopia and ophthalmoplegia. Neurologic examination disclosed exotropia of both eyes (wall-eyed) and bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia (WEBINO) with impaired convergence (figure, A).1 Vertical saccades and smooth pursuit were also limited, but improved during the …

Seoul, Korea, a country with an intermediate tuberculosis (TB) burden and low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.To determine the frequency of ofloxacin (OFX) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and to assess whether short-term use of fluoroquinolones (FQNs) induces ofloxacin-resistant M. tuberculosis.The subject cohort consisted of 2788 patients with culture-confirmed TB with drug susceptibility testing data; only four were HIV-positive. The patients were divided into two groups: those who were or were not recently exposed to FQNs.Of the 2788 isolates, the rates of OFX resistance were 1.1% and 8.5% in initially treated and retreated patients, respectively (P0.05). Of the 94 OFX-resistant isolates, 83 (88.3%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR). There was no difference in rates of OFX resistance throughout the study period, or between the FQN-exposed (1/39, 2.6%) and control groups (93/2749, 3.4%). The median duration of FQN treatment was 7 days (range 1-47 days). One OFX-resistant isolate in the FQN-exposed group was MDR.The rate of OFX-resistant M. tuberculosis was low and stationary throughout the study period in Korea. Most OFX resistance was accompanied by MDR, and the frequency of OFX-resistant M. tuberculosis was low in subjects taking short-term FQNs.

An ISOL‐based radioactive nuclear beam facility, Tokai Radioactive Ion Accelerator Complex (TRIAC), has been jointly constructed by High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The facility started to provide RNBs for experiments in 2005. RNBs, including fission fragments with energies up to 1.1 MeV/nucleon, are available. The experiments were performed with accelerated 8Li beams of various energies. Current status of the equipments and preliminary results on these experimental studies are presented.

Hypersecretory disease associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections is characterised by increased goblet cells and increased mucin production. Recently, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling cascade was shown to be a common pathway through which many stimuli induce mucin MUC5AC expression in airways by differentiation to a goblet cell phenotype. This study looked at whether PA products induce EGFR expression and activation and thus result in mucin MUC5AC production. Human airway epithelial (NCI-H292) cells were stimulated with PA culture supernatant (Sup). MUC5AC protein production, MUC5AC and EGFR messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression, and phosphorylated EGFR and phosphorylated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were all examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, by in situ hybridisation and by immunoblotting. PA Sup induced MUC5AC mRNA and subsequent protein expression, EGFR and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation and EGFR mRNA expression. Induction of MUC5AC mRNA and protein expression and EGFR and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation were inhibited completely by pretreatment with a selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Pretreatment with a selective inhibitor of MAPK kinase prevented MUC5AC production and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation but not EGFR phosphorylation. The authors conclude that PA products induce mucin MUC5AC production in human airway epithelial cells via the expression and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor.

A strain, KA/S2, isolated from Korean soil and morphologically assigned to Acanthamoeba castellanii, was characterized by isoenzyme analysis, and total proteins profile, and mitochondrial (Mt) DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and compared with four reference strains assigned to the species (the authenitic Castellani, Neff, Ma, and Chang strains). It was found that four isoenzyme, total proteins, and Mt DNA RFLP patterns by eight restriction endonucleases of the strain KA/S2 were identical with those of the Neff strain, isolated from soil of California, USA. The Chang strain was unique in its morphology and total protein patterns. Interstrain polymorphisms of isoenzyme profiles and Mt DNA RFLP patterns were observed among the Castellani, Neff, Ma, and Chang strains. Mt DNA RFLP was confirmed to be highly appropriate for the strain characterization and identification of Acanthamoeba spp.

7327 Background: The combination of vinorelbine (V) and cisplatin (P) has significant activity in advanced NSCLC. But the usual day 1 infusion of P and V (day 1 and 8) produce severe grade (G) 3/4 ...

An anaerobic filter and the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process were modified to develop a feasible alternative anaerobic wastewater treatment method. Polypropylene rings were used in the reactor as the floating media to maximize solids retention time (SRT), even at short hydraulic retention time (HRT). Clogging and plugging problems were solved by fluidizing the media with the biogas produced in the reactor. The mechanisms and applicability of the modified process were evaluated using artificial wastewater composed of glucose and non-fat dry milk at a level of 500-2,000 mg/l total chemical oxygen demand (T-COD).