Organosilicate Spin-on Glasses II. Effect of Physical Modification on Mechanical Properties

Porous copolymer films were synthesized from a methylsilsequioxane:1,2-bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane (MSSQ:BTMSE) matrix and either an aromatic-core or aliphatic-core porogen at 10, 20, or 30 wt % porogen loading. Films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR spectroscopy, and ellipsometry. Depth-sensing indentation experiments were performed to measure apparent film modulus, E, and hardness, H. Indentation load-displacement traces and SEM images were used to determine the threshold load for cracking, Pc. The aliphatic-core porogen produced a greater porosity film than the aromatic-core porogen for 10 wt % loading and smaller porosity films for 20 and 30 wt % loadings. IR spectra, normalized for film thickness and density, indicated decreased O-Si-O networking in porous MSSQ:BTMSE films. The combination of increased porosity and decreased O-Si-O networking led to a decreased apparent E and H relative to the unmodified MSSQ:BTMSE film. However, low-porosity (approximately 7%), aliphatic-porogen MSSQ:BTMSE films are optimized relative to unmodified MSSQ with smaller dielectric constant and greater E and H.This work is supported by the Korean Collaborative Project for Excellence in Basic System IC Technology (System IC 2010: 98- B4-C0-00-01-00-02). Financial support from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Korean Ministry of Education through the National Research Laboratory Fund and the Brain Korea 21 Program, respectively, is also greatly acknowledged

Kidney Health Plan 2033 in Korea: bridging the gap between the present and the future

In response to the increase in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Korea, the growth of patients requiring renal replacement therapy and the subsequent increase in medical costs, the rapid expansion of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and the decrease in patients receiving home therapy, including peritoneal dialysis, the Korean Society of Nephrology has proclaimed the new policy, Kidney Health Plan 2033 (KHP 2033). KHP 2033 would serve as a milestone to bridge the current issues to a future solution by directing the prevention and progression of CKD and ESKD, particularly diabetic kidney disease, and increasing the proportion of home therapy, thereby reducing the socioeconomic burden of kidney disease and improving the quality of life. Here, we provide the background for the necessity of KHP 2033, as well as the contents of KHP 2033, and enlighten the Korean Society of Nephrology’s future goals. Together with patients, healthcare providers, academic societies, and national policymakers, we need to move forward with goal-oriented drive and leadership to achieve these goals

Effects of 4 Weeks Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Administration on Insulin Resistance of Skeletal Muscle in Rats

Purpose: Effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) administration on lipid storage, and its subsequent effect on insulin sensitivity have not yet been adequately examined. Thus, we investigated the effects of rhGH treatment on muscle triglyceride (TG) and ceramide content, and insulin sensitivity after 4 weeks of rhGH administration in rats. Materials and Methods: Fourteen rats were randomly assigned to two groups: rhGH injection group (GH, n = 7) and saline injection group (CON, n = 7). GH received rhGH by sub--1-1-1 cutaneous injections (130 μg·kg ·day, 6 days·week) for 4 weeks, while CON received saline injections that were equivalent in volume to GH group. Intramuscular TG and ceramide content and hepatic TG content were measured. To determine insulin sesitivity, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT

Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors

Background Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and nonfatal suicide attempts, which occur far more frequently, are a major source of disability and social and economic burden. Both have substantial genetic etiology, which is partially shared and partially distinct from that of related psychiatric disorders. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 29,782 suicide attempt (SA) cases and 519,961 controls in the International Suicide Genetics Consortium (ISGC). The GWAS of SA was conditioned on psychiatric disorders using GWAS summary statistics via multitrait-based conditional and joint analysis, to remove genetic effects on SA mediated by psychiatric disorders. We investigated the shared and divergent genetic architectures of SA, psychiatric disorders, and other known risk factors. Results Two loci reached genome-wide significance for SA: the major histocompatibility complex and an intergenic locus on chromosome 7, the latter of which remained associated with SA after conditioning on psychiatric disorders and replicated in an independent cohort from the Million Veteran Program. This locus has been implicated in risk-taking behavior, smoking, and insomnia. SA showed strong genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, and also with smoking, pain, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, lower educational attainment, reproductive traits, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer general health. After conditioning on psychiatric disorders, the genetic correlations between SA and psychiatric disorders decreased, whereas those with nonpsychiatric traits remained largely unchanged. Conclusions Our results identify a risk locus that contributes more strongly to SA than other phenotypes and suggest a shared underlying biology between SA and known risk factors that is not mediated by psychiatric disorders.Peer reviewe

UBC South Campus Stormwater Detention Facility

Point Grey Consultants Ltd. was retained by Doug Doyle, Associate Director of Municipal Engineering for UBC Campus and Community Planning to design a stormwater management system for the UBC South Campus. The system is designed to provide stormwater detention for up to a 100 year storm, with a storage capacity of 4150 m³. This is achieved using an underground detention tank overlaid by a bio-retention pond which allows ponding of water. Pollution removal occurs as the bio-retention pond infiltrates stormwater flows up to a 2 year storm. The underground detention tank is 0.61 m high by 70 m long by 30 m wide and is to be located on the north corner of the intersection of Wesbrook Mall and SW Marine Drive. The overlaid bio-retention pond of the same area as the tank is to be constructed with 1 m of engineered soils with an infiltration rate of 43 mm/hr and planted with vegetation. A dyke surrounding the bio-retention pond will allow ponding of water up to 1.4m. Water that currently flows through the 1.05 m diameter storm main will be re-routed into a 1.05m culvert which discharges into the bio-retention pond. This water enters a central trough that runs the length of the bio-retention pond and spills onto adjacent rock that slows and distributes the water. Overflow pipes located 0.5 m above the surface of the bio-retention pond discharge water into the underground tank when ponding exceeds this level. A new by-pass pipe at 105 m upstream of the tank along the road will connect the existing stormwater main to the detention tank. An orifice outlet releases water at maximum rate of 261 L/s and discharges into the existing 1.2 m storm main. Throughout the design process, Point Grey Consulting has used the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Storm Water Management Modelling (US EPA SWMM) software. Numerical modelling of 100 year storms before and after the addition of this detention facility show that local flooding has been eliminated. The final design report contains the detailed design description of the detention tank and the bioretention pond. This includes tank, bio-retention pond, and bypass pipe locations and dimensions shown in AutoCAD and Sketchup drawings. A finalized cost estimate, work schedule, detailed construction activities along with specific site constraints is presented. Finally, recommendations are given for further improvement of the design. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”Applied Science, Faculty ofCivil Engineering, Department ofUnreviewedUndergraduat

Synchrotron serial crystallography at 11C beamline of Pohang Light Source-II

Serial crystallography (SX) makes a significant contribution for time-resolved studies and forms the base of structural analysis at room temperature, with minimal radiation damage. Even though X-ray free electron laser provides a femtosecond scale X-ray pulse, high accessibility of synchrotron facilities gives a merit for application of SX experiment. Therefore, we performed serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX) of lysozyme crystals at room-temperature. Both fixed target and injector-based methods were used for SX experiments to determine the structure of lysozyme crystals. Approximately 19,600 and 40,000 diffraction images were collected during 40 and 80 min, for fixed target and injectionbased methods, respectively in the SSX experiments. The 10 Hz synchrotron X-ray radiation of the 11C beamline of the Pohang accelerator laboratory was used and the crystal structures of lysozyme were determined at 1.89 Å and 1.80 Å resolutions, respectively. These results provide experimental clues for routine SX at room temperature in synchrotrons.22Ykciotherothe

Efficacy of Crataegus Extract Mixture on Body Fat and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

A Crataegus Extract Mixture (CEM) is a combination of extracts from Crataegus pinnatifida leaves and Citrus unshiu peels, well-known herbs used for treating obesity and dyslipidemia. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a CEM on the body fat and lipid profiles in overweight adults. A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted on 105 subjects aged 20–60 years with body mass indexes between 25 and 30 kg/m2. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either a high dose of the CEM (400 mg tid), a low dose of the CEM (280 mg tid), or a placebo. Body fat was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and anthropometric measurements. The blood lipid and adipokine profiles were measured before and after the administration. After 12 weeks, the reductions in the fat percentages measured by DXA and BIA were significantly greater in the CEM groups than in the placebo group. The CEM also significantly decreased the body weights, body mass indexes, and blood leptin levels. An additional per-protocol analysis revealed that the high dose of the CEM also lowered the blood levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No adverse events occurred after the CEM treatment. Our results suggest that CEMs are safe and effective for reducing the body fat and body weight and regulating the blood lipid and leptin levels in overweight or mildly obese individuals

The Effect of Alcohol Drinking on Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity in Koreans: Big Data Analysis

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of alcohol consumption on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity in Koreans by analysis of big data from the National Health Insurance Service health checkup database. A total of 26,991,429 subjects aged 20 years or older were included. Alcohol consumption was divided into five groups: nondrinkers, ≤7.0 g/d, 7.1–14.0 g/d, 14.1–28.0 g/d, ≥28.1 g/d. Logistic regression analyses were performed after adjusting for age, exercise, smoking, and income. The odds ratios (ORs) of MetS and obesity in men and women were lowest at ≤7.0 g/d, similar to that of the nondrinkers at 7.1–14.0 g/d, and increased with the alcohol consumption. At 7.1–14.0 g/d in older men, the ORs of metabolic syndrome and obesity were similar to those in the nondrinkers, but the OR of obesity was slightly increased in older women. This study suggests that the risk of MetS and obesity may be higher in Korean men, women, and the elderly who drink more than 14 g/d than the nondrinkers. In people with obesity or abdominal obesity, or those who need to manage their blood pressure, glucose, or triglyceride, drinking more than 7 g/d may increase the risk of MetS