The Effect of \u27Drowsy Shelters\u27 in Preventing Traffic Accidents in South Korea

The Korean government has paid attention to drowsy driving, because drowsy driving accounts for a high percentage of traffic accidents, and the government thought that it could address this problem with facility improvements. The Korean Government beg an installing simple rest spots, called ‘Drowsy Shelters’, on the highway for drivers who feel tired, in 2011. In this study, I figured out that the distance between rest areas is related to the number of drowsy diving accidents. When the distance between rest areas increases by 1 km, drowsy diving accidents increase. Therefore, this policy seems to be effective in terms of preventing traffic accidents. An intriguing point is that in drowsy driving accident cases, unlike ordinary traffic accidents, bad weather or bad road condition decreases drowsy driving accidents. I think the bad driving environment makes people tense and pay attention to their driving. The reduction in intervals between rest spots has statistically detectable effect on deaths caused by drowsy driving. The effect of drowsy shelters seems obvious for reduction of traffic accidents. Therefore, this policy should be continued and encouraged until the interval between rest spots is less than 10 miles (16 kilometers). Long-distance trucks and commercial vehicle drivers have a high probability of drowsy driving, so when installing drowsy shelters, it is necessary to secure enough parking space for large vehicles

Vibrational Spectra, Theoretical Calculations, and Structures of Cyclic Silanes, 2,4,7-Trioxa(3.3.0)Octane and Botryococcenes

The vibrational spectra and structures of several cyclic silanes and a bicyclic molecule have been investigated with high-level ab initio and density function theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, the Raman spectra of botryococcene hydrocarbons have been studied to help with their identification. Infrared and Raman spectra and ab initio and DFT calculations have been utilized to study 1,3-disilacyclopent-3-ene, 1,3-disilacyclopentane, 1-silacyclopent-3-ene, silacyclopentane and their derivatives. In each case the agreement between observed and calculated infrared and Raman spectra was very good. Theoretical computations have also been used to calculate the potential energy surfaces (PES) for four cyclic silanes. The calculated ring-puckering potential energy functions of 1-silacyclopent-3-ene and 1,3-disilacyclopent-3-ene had barriers of 3.8 cm^-1 and 0 cm^-1, respectively, in good agreement with experimental results. The calculated results for and 1,3-disilacyclopentane predicted ring-twisting barriers of 2493 cm^-1 (vs. 2110 cm^-1 observed) and 1395 cm^-1, respectively. The conformational energies for the bent forms were calculated to be 1467 cm^-1 (vs. 1509 cm^-1 observed) for the former and 878 cm^-1 for the latter relative to the energy of the twist minima. The vibrational assignments of 2,4,7-trioxa(3.3.0)octane have been made based on its infrared and Raman spectra and theoretical DFT calculations. The two ring-puckering motions (in-phase and out-of-phase) were observed in the Raman spectrum of the liquid at 249 and 205 cm^-1 and these values correspond well to the DFT values of 247 and 198 cm^-1. Ab initio calculations were utilized to calculate the structures and conformational energies for the four energy minima and the barriers to interconversion and the data were utilized to generate a two-dimensional PES for the two ring-puckering motions. The Raman and infrared spectra of liquid squalene, which is a building block molecule for the production of essential cellular molecules, have been collected and assigned using DFT calculations. This was helpful for analyzing the Raman spectra of botryococcus braunii. DFT calculations also assisted in understanding the Raman spectra of the botryococcenes. The spectral region from 1600-1700 cm^-1 shows C=C stretching bands specific for botryococcenes, and this is of great value for identifying the specific molecules

Submerzni uzgoj i karakterizacija polisaharida iz gljive Grifola frondosa – primjena u kozmetičkoj industriji

Grifola frondosa (maitake) is traditionally called \u27the king of mushrooms\u27 and \u27the hen of the woods\u27. Both the fruiting bodies and the mycelium of maitake have been reported to have antitumor and antiviral activities. Recently, submerged culture processes have been developed, with the intention of providing opportunities for increased economic exploitation of maitake. Commonly the aim of these processes is to produce extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), mostly glucans, and to explore their applications, particularly in the cosmetic industry. A wide variety of EPS with different molecular chain length and chemical compositions are produced under different culture conditions. In this article, various biological and physicochemical properties of the EPS of G. frondosa (GF-EPS) are described, with a view to applications in the area of functional cosmeceuticals. The GF-EPS, together with GF mycelial extract (GF-MPS), showed antioxidative activity, stimulation of collagen biosynthetic activity, cell proliferation activity, and inhibitory activity of melanogenesis, without significant cytotoxicity. These diverse functionalities suggest that both GF-EPS and GF-MPS can be promising cosmetic ingredients.Gljivu Grifola frondosa (maitake) u Koreji tradicionalno zovu kraljicom gljiva i šumskim bogatstvom. Dokazano je da plodište i micelij gljiva maitake imaju antitumorski i antivirusni učinak. Ekonomsko iskorištenje te gljive omogućeno je submerznim uzgojem. Uobičajeni je cilj uzgoja proizvodnja ekstracelularnih polisaharida (EPS), uglavnom glukana i istraživanje mogućnosti njihove primjene u kozmetičkoj industriji. Pri raznim uvjetima proizvodnje dobivaju se ekstracelularni polisaharidi različitih duljina lanaca i kemijskoga sastava. U ovom su radu opisana razna biološka i fizikalno-kemijska svojstva ekstracelularnih polisaharida gljive Grifola frondosa (GF-EPS), te primjena u proizvodnji kozmetičkih preparata s povoljnim utjecajem na ljudsko zdravlje. Ekstracelularni polisaharidi i ekstrakt micelija gljive Grifola frondosa (GFMPS) imaju antioksidativni učinak, stimuliraju biosintezu kolagena, bujanje stanica, sprečavaju nastanak melanoma i nemaju jače citotoksično djelovanje, zbog čega su prikladni za primjenu u kozmetičkoj industriji

Using In Vitro Dynamic Models To Evaluate Fluoroquinolone Activity against Emergence of Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

The objectives of this study were to determine pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) indices of fluoroquinolones that minimize the emergence of resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) using in vitro dynamic models and to establish mechanisms of resistance. Three fluoroquinolones, difloxacin (DIF), enrofloxacin (ENR), and marbofloxacin (MAR), at five dose levels and 3 days of treatment were simulated. Bacterial killing-regrowth kinetics and emergence of resistant bacteria after antibacterial drug exposure were quantified. PK/PD indices associated with different levels of antibacterial activity were computed. Mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance were determined by analyzing target mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) and by analyzing overexpression of efflux pumps. Maximum losses in susceptibility of fluoroquinolone-exposed S. Typhimurium occurred at a simulated AUC/MIC ratio (area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h in the steady state divided by the MIC) of 47 to 71. Target mutations in gyrA (S83F) and overexpression of acrAB-tolC contributed to decreased susceptibility in fluoroquinolone-exposed S. Typhimurium. The current data suggest AUC/MIC (AUC/mutant prevention concentration [MPC])-dependent selection of resistant mutants of S. Typhimurium, with AUC/MPC ratios of 69 (DIF), 62 (ENR), and 39 (MAR) being protective against selection of resistant mutants. These values could not be achieved in veterinary clinical areas under the current recommended therapeutic doses of the fluoroquinolones, suggesting the need to reassess the current dosing regimen to include both clinical efficacy and minimization of emergence of resistant bacteria

WITHDRAWN: Effects of various glycerol concentrations and thawing temperatures on CASA parameters and acrosomal integrity of frozen–thawed canine spermatozoa

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy

Probiotic properties and adsorption of Enterococcus faecalis PSCT3-7 to vermiculite

The probiotic properties of Enterococcus (E.) faecalis PSCT3-7, a new strain isolated from the intestines of pigs fed dietary fiber containing 50% sawdust, were investigated. E. faecalis PSCT3-7 tolerated a pH range of 3 to 8 and 0.3% bile salts, and it inhibited the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, E. faecalis showed resistance to several antibacterial agents. Vermiculite, a nutrient and microbial carrier, increased the bile tolerance of the strain. Scanning electron microscope images revealed good adsorption of E. faecalis PSCT3-7 onto vermiculite. E. faecalis PSCT3-7 represents a potential probiotic candidate to administer with vermiculite to swine

Functional characterization of the pathogenesis-related protein family 10 gene, PgPR10-4, from Panax ginseng in response to environmental stresses

Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) are known to function in higher plants as a protein-based defensive system against abiotic and biotic stress, particularly pathogen infections. A full-length cDNA sequence of PR BetV1 was isolated and characterized from a 14-year-old ginseng expressed sequence tags library and we named this as PgPR10-4, because of similar identities with previous isolated PgPR10s sequences. The PgPR10-4 gene encodes a 477 bp open reading frame and its deduced protein contains 158 amino acids with a 53 % identity with that of the Actinidia chinensis BetV1 allergen. The expression of PgPR10-4 gene was abundant in leaves and its transcripts showed differentially up-regulated patterns against several ginseng pathogens and abiotic stimuli such as high light and salinity. In addition, PgPR10-4 expression was strongly responsive towards the stress signaling molecules H2O2 and jasmonic acid (JA), while weekly responsive to salicylic acid and abscisic acid. A functional role of PgPR10-4 in environmental stress tolerance was further validated through its overexpression in Arabidopsis. An analysis of T2 transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing the PgPR10-4 gene showed an enhanced tolerance to bacterial and fungal infection, but not to salt stress. When we tagged with cyan fluorescent protein fusion protein, the PgPR10-4-was found to localize to the cytoplasm. The enhanced antifungal activity observed from the Arabidopsis transgenic lines suggests the possible involvement of PgPR10-4 in a defense-related mechanism via the JA signaling pathway

Current Status of Cognitive Remediation for Psychiatric Disorders: A Review

Cognition is an important factor that affects daily functioning and quality of life. Impairment in cognitive function is a common symptom present in various psychological disorders, which hinders patients from functioning normally. Given that cognitive impairment has devastating effects, enhancing this in patients should lead to improvements in compromised quality of life and functioning, including vocational functioning. Over the past 50 years, several attempts have been made to improve impaired cognition, and empirical evidence for cognitive remediation (CR) has accumulated that supports its efficacy for treating schizophrenia. More recently, CR has been successfully applied in the treatment of depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anorexia nervosa. This study critically reviews recent CR studies and suggests their future direction. This study aimed to provide a modern definition of CR, and examine the current status of empirical evidence and representative CR programs that are widely used around the world

Granulocytic Sarcoma in the Head and Neck: CT and MR Imaging Findings

ObjectivesTo evaluate characteristic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of granulocytic sarcomas of the head and neck.MethodsThe CT (n=11) and MR (n=1) images obtained from 11 patients (7 males and 4 females; mean age, 23.5 yr; age range, 1 to 69 yr) with histologically-proven granulocytic sarcomas of the head and neck were retrospectively reviewed. Histological confirmation was done by bone marrow biopsy in 9 patients, and/or local biopsy in 4 patients. The imaging findings were analyzed with particular attention to location, size, shape, margin, bone destruction, internal architecture, pattern and degree of enhancement, and multiplicity of the lesions.ResultsThe masses were most commonly located in the orbital cavity (n=8); other locations included lymph nodes (n=5) and palatine/pharyngeal/lingual tonsils (n=3). The mass sizes varied from a mean diameter of 1.3 to 5.8 cm (average, 2.6 cm). Multiple lesions were found in 6 patients. The shapes of the tumors were ovoid in 12 patients and irregular in 4 patients. Most lesions had poorly-defined margins (13/16) and invaded adjacent bony structures (5/16). On the pre-contrast CT images, the masses were iso- (5/8) or low-density (3/8) in comparison with muscle. The MRI, which was obtained in one patient in this study, showed that the mass was iso-signal intensity on T1-weighted images and iso-signal intensity on T2-weighted images compared to the gray matter of the brain. On the post-contrast CT images, there was homogenesous (n=12) or heterogeneous (n=4) enhancement, with mild (n=10), moderate (n=4), and marked (n=2) enhancement in the solid portions of the lesions.ConclusionAlthough rare, granulocytic sarcomas arise in various locations in the head and neck area (most commonly in the orbit) in the form of well-demarcated, and mildly- and homogenously-enhancing masses with adjacent bony invasion

Simultaneous detection and subtyping of porcine endogenous retroviruses proviral DNA using the dual priming oligonucleotide system

The purpose of this study was to develop a multiplex PCR that can detect porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) proviral genes (pol, envA, envB, envC) and porcine mitochondrial DNA, using a dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) system. The primer specifically detected the PERV proviral genes pol, envA, envB, envC, and porcine mitochondrial DNA only in samples of pig origin. The sensitivity of the primer was demonstrated by simultaneous amplification of all 5 target genes in as little as 10 pg of pig DNA containing PERV proviral genes and mitochondrial DNA. The multiplex PCR, when applied to field samples, simultaneously and successfully amplified PERV proviral genes from liver, blood and hair root samples. Thus, the multiplex PCR developed in the current study using DPO-based primers is a rapid, sensitive and specific assay for the detection and subtyping of PERV proviral genes