Pt/Ti/Al2O3/Al tunnel junctions showing electroforming-free bipolar resistive switching behavior

We investigated electroforming-free bipolar resistive switching behavior in Pt/Ti/Al2O3/Al tunnel junctions where the Al2O3 tunnel barrier was naturally formed on Al in air. Various compliance current values for the junction's set switching successfully lead to various resistance values in its low resistance state, suggesting the possibility for multi-level-operation. A mechanism for the bipolar switching is qualitatively discussed in terms of the modulation of the tunnel barrier by the reactive Ti layer on top of the barrier

Large Linear Magnetoresistance in Heavily-Doped Nb:SrTiO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e Epitaxial Thin Films

Interaction between electrons has long been a focused topic in condensed-matter physics since it has led to the discoveries of astonishing phenomena, for example, high-Tc superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in strongly-correlated materials. In the study of strongly-correlated perovskite oxides, Nb-doped SrTiO3 (Nb:SrTiO3) has been a workhorse not only as a conducting substrate, but also as a host possessing high carrier mobility. In this work, we report the observations of large linear magnetoresistance (LMR) and the metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) induced by magnetic field in heavily-doped Nb:STO (SrNb0.2Ti0.8O3) epitaxial thin films. These phenomena are associated with the interplay between the large classical MR due to high carrier mobility and the electronic localization effect due to strong spin-orbit coupling, implying that heavily Nb-doped Sr(Nb0.2Ti0.8)O3 is promising for the application in spintronic devices

Ultrasonographic Characteristics of Subacute Granulomatous Thyroiditis

Objective: We wanted to describe the characteristic ultrasonography (US) features and clinical findings for making the diagnosis of subacute granulomatous thyroiditis. Materials and Methods: A total of 31 lesions from 27 patients were confirmed as subacute granulomatous thyroiditis by US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy. We analyzed the ultrasonographic findings such as the lesion's size, margin and shape, the discrepancy between length and breadth and the vascularity. The clinical findings such as acute neck pain or fever were reviewed. The follow-up clinical and ultrasonographic data were reviewed for 15 patients. Results: The thyroid gland was found to be enlarged in five patients, it was normal size in 20 patients and it was smaller in two patients. All the lesions had focally ill-defined hypoechogenicity. Hypervascularity was not noted in any of the lesions. Painful neck swelling was present in 18 patients. An accompanying fever was documented in nine of the 18 patients. Twelve patients showed disappearance (n = 3) or a decreased size (n = 9) of their lesions on follow-up US. Conclusion: The presence of ill-defined hypoechoic thyroid lesions without a discrete round or oval shape is characteristic for subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, and particularly when this is associated with painful neck swelling and/or fever.ope

β-Glucan enhanced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells SNU-C4

The apoptotic effect of bacteria-derived β-glucan was investigated in human colon cancer cells SNU-C4 using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 genes, and assay of caspase-3 enzyme activity. β-Glucan of 10, 50, and 100 µg/mL decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with typical apoptotic characteristics, such as morphological changes of chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation from TUNEL assay. In addition, β-glucan (100 µg/mL) decreased the expression of Bcl-2 by 0.6 times, whereas the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 were increased by 3.1 and 2.3 times, respectively, compared to untreated control group. Furthermore, the caspase-3 activity in the β-glucan-treated group was significantly increased compared to those in control group (P < 0.05). Bacterial derived β-glucan could be used as an effective compound inducing apoptosis in human colon cancer

Simplified EM grid vitrification is a convenient and efficient method for mouse mature oocyte cryopreservation

This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of simplified EM grid vitrification, skipping the step of removing the cryoprotectant (5.5M EG + 1.0M sucrose) droplet on the grid after loading oocytes, compared to conventional cryopreservation protocols for mouse mature oocytes. Firstly, the recovery, survival, fertilization and hatching rates of simplified EM grid vitrification were compared with those of the slow freezing method using 1.5M DMSO. Then, conventional EM grid vitrification was compared with simplified EM grid vitrification. Simplified EM grid vitrification showed higher survival, fertilization and hatching rates than those of the slow freezing method (85.6% vs. 63.2%; 51.0% vs. 22.3%; 38.7% vs. 12.5%, p < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, simplified EM grid vitrification showed higher recovery, survival and fertilization rates than those of conventional EM grid vitrification (100% vs. 95.0%, p=0.024; 90.0% vs. 78.9%, p=0.033; 56.7% vs. 38.7%, p=0.021, respectively). Hatching rate tended to be higher for simplified EM grid vitrification compared to conventional EM grid vitrification (41.1% vs. 24.1%). In conclusion, simplified EM grid vitrification is a convenient and efficient method for cryopreservation of mouse mature oocytes, compared to conventional EM grid vitrification and slow freezing methods

Simplified EM Grid Vitrification Is a Convenient and Efficient Method for Mouse Mature Oocyte Cryopreservation

This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of simplified EM grid vitrification, skipping the step of removing the cryoprotectant (5.5 M EG + 1.0 M sucrose) droplet on the grid after loading oocytes, compared to conventional cryopreservation protocols for mouse mature oocytes. Firstly, the recovery, survival, fertilization and hatching rates of simplified EM grid vitrification were compared with those of the slow freezing method using 1.5 M DMSO. Then, conventional EM grid vitrification was compared with simplified EM grid vitrification. Simplified EM grid vitrification showed higher survival, fertilization and hatching rates than those of the slow freezing method (85.6% vs. 63.2%; 51.0% vs. 22.3%; 38.7% vs. 12.5%, p < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, simplified EM grid vitrification showed higher recovery, survival and fertilization rates than those of conventional EM grid vitrification (100% vs. 95.0%, p = 0.024; 90.0% vs. 78.9%, p = 0.033; 56.7% vs. 38.7%, p = 0.021, respectively). Hatching rate tended to be higher for simplified EM grid vitrification compared to conventional EM grid vitrification (41.1% vs. 24.1%). In conclusion, simplified EM grid vitrification is a convenient and efficient method for cryopreservation of mouse mature oocytes, compared to conventional EM grid vitrification and slow freezing methods

Health Indicators Related to Disease, Death, and Reproduction

One of the primary goals of epidemiology is to quantify various aspects of a population’s health, illness, and death status and the determinants (or risk factors) thereof by calculating health indicators that measure the magnitudes of various conditions. There has been some confusion regarding health indicators, with discrepancies in usage among organizations such as the World Health Organization the, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the CDC of other countries, and the usage of the relevant terminology may vary across papers. Therefore, in this review, we would like to propose appropriate terminological definitions for health indicators based on the most commonly used meanings and/or the terms used by official agencies, in order to bring clarity to this area of confusion. We have used appropriate examples to make each health indicator easy for the reader to understand. We have included practical exercises for some health indicators to help readers understand the underlying concepts

Black Cohosh and St. John's Wort (GYNO-Plus®) for Climacteric Symptoms

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in women with climacteric symptoms, and to assess their effects on vaginal atrophy, hormone levels, and lipid profiles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 89 peri- or postmenopausal women experiencing climacteric symptoms were treated with St. John's wort and black cohosh extract (Gynoplus), Jin-Yang Pharm., Seoul, Korea) or a matched placebo for 12 weeks. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by the Kupperman Index (KI) initially and at 4 and 12 weeks following treatment. Vaginal maturation indices, serum estradiol, FSH, LH, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured before and after treatment. From the initial 89 participants, 77 completed the trial (42 in the Gynoplus group, 35 in the placebo group). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean KI scores and hot flushes after 4 and 12 weeks were significantly lower in the Gynoplus group. Differences in superficial cell proportion were not statistically significant. HDL levels decreased in the control group from 60.20 +/- 16.37 to 56.63 +/- 12.67, and increased in the Gynoplus group from 58.32 +/- 11.64 to 59.74 +/- 10.54; this was statistically significant (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Black cohosh and St. John's wort combination was found to be effective in alleviating climacteric symptoms and might provide benefits to lipid metabolismope