Selective sinoatrial node optical mapping and the mechanism of sinus rate acceleration

BACKGROUND: Studies using isolated sinoatrial node (SAN) cells indicate that rhythmic spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release (Ca clock) plays an important role in SAN automaticity. In the intact SAN, cross-contamination of optical signals from the SAN and the right atrium (RA) prevent the definitive testing of Ca clock hypothesis. The aim of this study was to use a novel approach to selectively mapping the intact SAN to examine the Ca clock mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: We simultaneously mapped intracellular Ca (Ca(i)) and membrane potential (V(m)) in 10 isolated, Langendorff-perfused normal canine RAs. The excitability of the RA was suppressed with high-potassium Tyrode's solution, allowing selective optical mapping of V(m) and Ca(i) of the SAN. Isoproterenol (ISO, 0.03 µmol/L) decreased the cycle length of the sinus beats, and shifted the leading pacemaker site from the middle or inferior SAN to the superior SAN in all RAs. The Ca(i) upstroke preceded the V(m) in the leading pacemaker site by up to 18 ± 2 ms. ISO-induced changes to SAN were inhibited by ryanodine (3 µmol/L), but not ZD7288 (3 µmol/L), a selective I(f) blocker. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, in the isolated canine RA, a high extracellular potassium concentration can suppress atrial excitability thus leading to SAN-RA conduction block, allowing selective optical mapping of the intact SAN. Acceleration of Ca cycling in the superior SAN underlies the mechanism of sinus tachycardia during sympathetic stimulation

Nonvolatile memory characteristics associated with oxygen ion exchange in thin-film transistors with indium-zinc oxide channel and HfO2-x gate oxide

Non-charge-storage-based nonvolatile memory characteristics associated with oxygen ion exchange are demonstrated in a thin-film transistor (TFT) composed of an indium-zinc oxide (IZO) channel and an oxygen-deficient HfO2???x gate oxide. A nonvolatile increase in drain current and a reduced threshold voltage are obtained upon application of positive gate voltage, with the opposite characteristics upon application of negative voltage. The device shows nonvolatile retention properties and suitable endurance properties after repeated operations. Modulation of channel conductance occurs as a results of oxygen ion exchange between the HfO2???x gate oxide and the IZO channel, which consequently alters the oxygen vacancy concentration in the IZO channel; these vacancies act as n-type dopants. For comparison, a device with a thin SiO2 layer inserted between the HfO2???x gate oxide and the IZO channel to prevent oxygen ion exchange shows only the increased threshold voltage upon application of a positive gate voltage as a result of electron charging. These results verify the conductance modulation mechanism associated with oxygen ion exchange at the interface of the HfO2???x gate oxide and the IZO channel. In addition, the nonvolatile memory characteristics of the device are indicative of its potential for non-charge-storage-based nonvolatile memory application

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

Polygenic risk scores for prediction of breast cancer risk in Asian populations.

PURPOSE: Non-European populations are under-represented in genetics studies, hindering clinical implementation of breast cancer polygenic risk scores (PRSs). We aimed to develop PRSs using the largest available studies of Asian ancestry and to assess the transferability of PRS across ethnic subgroups. METHODS: The development data set comprised 138,309 women from 17 case-control studies. PRSs were generated using a clumping and thresholding method, lasso penalized regression, an Empirical Bayes approach, a Bayesian polygenic prediction approach, or linear combinations of multiple PRSs. These PRSs were evaluated in 89,898 women from 3 prospective studies (1592 incident cases). RESULTS: The best performing PRS (genome-wide set of single-nucleotide variations [formerly single-nucleotide polymorphism]) had a hazard ratio per unit SD of 1.62 (95% CI = 1.46-1.80) and an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.635 (95% CI = 0.622-0.649). Combined Asian and European PRSs (333 single-nucleotide variations) had a hazard ratio per SD of 1.53 (95% CI = 1.37-1.71) and an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.621 (95% CI = 0.608-0.635). The distribution of the latter PRS was different across ethnic subgroups, confirming the importance of population-specific calibration for valid estimation of breast cancer risk. CONCLUSION: PRSs developed in this study, from association data from multiple ancestries, can enhance risk stratification for women of Asian ancestry

Re-descobrint el paisatge vernacle: costa mediterrània. Murs com a guia del moviment

[ES] El parque natural de la Albufera en Valencia es un enclave privilegiado donde varios tipos de aves, peces y vegetación coexisten, y cohabitan formando la flora y fauna y las acequias de agua dulce que desembocan en los reconocidos arrozales de la ciudad. Sin embargo, algunas zonas infrautilizadas prestan parte del valor paisajístico y de lo que ésta representa para la zona y para toda valencia, por lo que el ciclo natural de la albufera se encuentra alterado; una reducción de varias especies, descenso de la calidad del agua debido a la salinización, el aumento del nivel del mar. Entre las adversidades naturales, las preciadas dunas litorales de las costas del sur de Valencia habían sido eliminadas casi en su totalidad bajo la excusa de expansión inmobiliaria. Por lo que se propone un proyecto paisajístico y sostenible basado en la regeneración de las dunas mediante su capacidad intrínseca, la naturaleza móvil de las propias dunas que sirve como catalizador para que en conjunción con los elementos arquitectónicos se reformen de manera natural. Para acelerar la reversión ambiental establecida y contrarrestar las repercusiones del desarrollo humano, el proyecto tiene como una función principal presentarse como un elemento secundario en la naturaleza, funcionando como una plataforma para que los visitantes se sumerjan en el paisaje por completo y lo experimenten verdaderamente. La arquitectura no solo proporciona una experiencia espacial para los visitantes o talleres in situ para que los expertos investiguen, sino que también se identifica como una base que permite que las dunas se asienten libremente encima suya. El espacio está proyectado para adaptarse al movimiento de las dunas y los cambios constantes, sirviendo como un puente armonizado entre lo construido y lo paisajístico, un paso más hacia una arquitectura perdurable.[EN] The natural park of Albufera in Valencia is a unique and extraordinary preservation of nature in all of Europe, enveloping vast biodiversity, flora and fauna, and sweet water that flows into the recognized rice fields around the city. However, this environmental gem has seen its better days, suffering a reduction of various species and water quality due to salinization and rising sea levels. Among the natural adversities, the treasured coastal dunes along the shores of south Valencia had been almost completely removed under the excuse of real estate development, boosting the deterioration of the natural cycle of the territory. To accelerate the established environmental reversion, this project proposes to aid the regeneration of the dunes based on their intrinsic mobility, inciting a natural reformation on their own in conjunction with the architectural elements designed. The architecture not only provides a spatial experience for visitors and an in situ workshops for experts to investigate but also identifies as a foundation allowing dunes to settle freely above and around it. Accepting the surrounding relations and the dunes' directional flow, the project's principal function is to stand as a secondary element in nature, functioning as a platform for visitors to immerse in the landscape entirely and truly experience it. The resulting architectural space is projected to adapt to dune movement and constant changes, acting as a harmonized bridge between constructed architecture and natural landscape, a step towards genuine, sustainable architecture.Han, B. (2023). Re-discovering vernacular landscape: Mediterranean coast. Walls guiding Movement. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/20164

L¿anticipació de la experiència urbana en la era digital

[CA] As social animals living in the fastest-ever changing era, a great part of our lives is shared and posted in the online world. People ́s opinions, views, and experiences are limitlessly exchanged, and more often than not, our perspectives are shaped by what we receive through the media. Consequently, visiting a new city nowadays, is not, in fact, the first time at all like it used to be. Whether it be movies, books, social media, or even video games, we are endlessly exposed to images of places around the world. Thus, our first encounters with the urban atmosphere are not new anymore, only altered views of the way we experience the space. This paper aims to investigate the effects of preliminary ideas of cities prior to arrival and reflect as urbanists and architects, upon the disparity between reality and anticipation.[ES] Vivimos en una época donde todo cambia cada día, donde gran parte de la vida está compartida de modo online. Las experiencias, pensamientos y opiniones están intercambiados sin límite. Instintivamente, viajar a un sitio nuevo y absorber la diferente escena urbana no será del mismo modo que lo fue. Ya sea a través de redes sociales, libros, películas o incluso videojuegos, todos estamos expuestos a imágenes y comentarios de cualquier ciudad. Por lo tanto, nuestros puntos de vista a la hora de entender un espacio urbano, aunque sea la primera vista, están alterados. El presente trabajo pretende investigar los efectos de ideas preconcebidas sobre ciudades y teniendo en cuenta estos efectos, tanto como las herramientas actuales, reflexionar como urbanistas y arquitectos, sobre la disparidad entre la realidad y la anticipación.Han, B. (2022). Anticipación de la experiencia urbana en la era digital. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/18988

Long Working Hours in Korea: Based on the 2014 Korean Working Conditions Survey

Background: Long working hours adversely affect worker safety and health. In 2004, Korea passed legislation that limited the work week to 40 hours, in an effort to improve quality-of-life and increase business competitiveness. This regulation was implemented in stages, first for large businesses and then for small businesses, from 2004 to 2011. We previously reported that average weekly working hours decreased from 2006 to 2010, based on the Korean Working Conditions Survey. Methods: In the present study, we examine whether average weekly working hours continued to decrease in 2014 based on the 2014 Korean Working Conditions Survey. Results: The results show that average weekly working hours among all groups of workers decreased in 2014 relative to previous years; however, self-employed individuals and employers (who are not covered by the new legislation) in the specific service sectors worked > 60 h/wk in 2014. Conclusion: The Korean government should prohibit employees from working excessive hours and should also attempt to achieve social and public consensus regarding work time reduction to improve the safety, health, and quality-of-life of all citizens, including those who are employers and self-employed. Keywords: employee, employer, Korea, self-employed, working hour

Work Sectors with High Risk for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Korean Men and Women

Background: To identify work sectors with high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in Korean men and women. Methods: We analyzed nationwide data to identify ergonomic risk factors in Korean employees. In particular, we analyzed data on exposure to five ergonomic risk factors (painful/tiring postures, lifting/moving heavy materials, standing/walking, repetitive hand/arm movements, and hand/arm vibration) according to employment sector, sex, and age, using the 2014 Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey. We also used workers' compensation data on work-related MSDs in 2010, which is available by sex. Results: The different work sectors had different gender distributions. “Manufacturing” (27.7%) and “construction” (11.3%) were dominated by males, whereas “human health and social work activities” (12.4%), “hotel and restaurants” (11.7%), and “education” (10.4%) were dominated by females. However, “wholesale and retail trade” and “public administration and defense” employed large numbers of males and females. Furthermore, the work sectors with a greater proportion of work-related MSDs and with multiple ergonomic risk factors were different for men and women. For men, “construction” and “manufacturing” had the highest risk for work-related MSDs; for women, “hotel and restaurants” had the highest risk for work-related MSDs. Conclusion: Ergonomic interventions for workers should consider gender and should focus on work sectors with high risk for MSDs, with multiple ergonomic risk factors, and with the largest number of workers. Keywords: ergonomic, risk factor, Korean workers, musculoskeletal disorde

Write-Once-Read-Many-Times Memory Characteristics with a Large Memory Window Operating at a Low Voltage by Li-Ion Incorporation from the LiCoO x Ion-Supplying Layer into the InGaZnO Channel of a Thin-Film Transistor

Write-once-read-many-times (WORM)memory characteristicswith alarge memory window are demonstrated in a thin-film transistor (TFT)composed of an indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) channel and a lithium-cobaltoxide (LiCoO x ) ion-supplying layer inthe gate oxide. While the device with a thicker (5 nm) tunneling oxideshowing a threshold voltage shift (Delta V (T)) of about 5 V by electron charging upon positive gate voltage (V (GS)) sweep to +25 V, the device with a 2 nm-thicktunneling oxide exhibits a large memory window with Delta V (T) > 20 V by Li-ion migration from LiCoO x to IGZO channel, which can be controlledas multilevel states with respect to the V (GS) amplitude. Incorporation of Li ions into the IGZO channel actingas p-type dopants reduces carrier concentration in the channel andconsequently increases V (T). The increased V (T) and the consequently reduced drain currentare not instantly restored back by applying negative V (GS), featuring WORM memory characteristics. Although thedevice undergoes partial retention loss, the retention remains upto about 90% after 100 min of retention time. These results verifyWORM memory operations in the IGZO TFTs through gate voltage-drivenLi-ion incorporation into the IGZO channel to modify its conductivestates instead of using a typical electrical charging route