Large area deep ultraviolet light of Al0.47_{0.47}Ga0.53_{0.53}N/Al0.56_{0.56}Ga0.44_{0.44}N multi quantum well with carbon nanotube electron beam pumping

Large area deep ultraviolet (DUV) light is generated by carbon nanotube (CNT) cold cathode electron beam (C-beam) irradiation on Al$_{0.47}$Ga$_{0.53}$N/Al$_{0.56}$Ga$_{0.44}$N multi quantum wells (MQWs) anode. We developed areal electron beam (EB) with CNT cold cathode emitters. The CNT emitters on silicon wafer were deposited with an area of 188 mm$^2$ , and these were vertically aligned and had conical structures. We optimized the C-beam irradiation conditions to effectively excite AlGaN MQWs. When AlGaN MQWs were excited using an anode voltage of 3 kV and an anode current of 0.8 mA, DUV with a wavelength of 278.7 nm was generated in a large area of 303 mm$^2$ . This DUV area is more than 11 times larger than the light emitting area of conventional EB pumped light sources and UV-LEDs

Decision Making Method Based on Importance-Dangerousness Analysis for the Potential Risk Behavior of Construction Laborers

Unsafe behavior contributes to 90% of the causes of construction accidents. To prevent construction accidents, studies on existing unsafe behaviors have been regularly conducted. However, existing studies generally tend to average the survey results and conduct analyses thereon, and such a method cannot consider the potential risk as regards people’s anxiety about a certain unsafe behavior. Thus, this research suggests an Importance-Dangerousness Analysis (IDA) technique so that potential risks due to unsafe behaviors of laborers working in the construction sector could be evaluated. In order to verify the applicability of the suggested technique, an actual survey was conducted, and the results of Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and IDA were compared with each other. It was found that, unlike IPA, unsafe behaviors that could pose potential risks were confirmed by IDA. Further, unsafe behaviors in the construction sector that should be urgently addressed were also studied. Finally, the IDA suggested in this research could contribute to effective construction safety management on-site by supporting the decisions of the safety manager based on the unsafe behavior analysis of construction laborers

Auxin response factor 2 (ARF2) plays a major role in regulating auxin-mediated leaf longevity

Auxin regulates a variety of physiological and developmental processes in plants. Although auxin acts as a suppressor of leaf senescence, its exact role in this respect has not been clearly defined, aside from circumstantial evidence. It was found here that ARF2 functions in the auxin-mediated control of Arabidopsis leaf longevity, as discovered by screening EMS mutant pools for a delayed leaf senescence phenotype. Two allelic mutations, ore14-1 and 14-2, caused a highly significant delay in all senescence parameters examined, including chlorophyll content, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, membrane ion leakage, and the expression of senescence-associated genes. A delay of senescence symptoms was also observed under various senescence-accelerating conditions, where detached leaves were treated with darkness, phytohormones, or oxidative stress. These results indicate that the gene defined by these mutations might be a key regulatory genetic component controlling functional leaf senescence. Map-based cloning of ORE14 revealed that it encodes ARF2, a member of the auxin response factor (ARF) protein family, which modulates early auxin-induced gene expression in plants. The ore14/arf2 mutation also conferred an increased sensitivity to exogenous auxin in hypocotyl growth inhibition, thereby demonstrating that ARF2 is a repressor of auxin signalling. Therefore, the ore14/arf2 lesion appears to cause reduced repression of auxin signalling with increased auxin sensitivity, leading to delayed senescence. Altogether, our data suggest that ARF2 positively regulates leaf senescence in Arabidopsis

The Effect of Calcipotriol on the Expression of Human β Defensin-2 and LL-37 in Cultured Human Keratinocytes

Background. Vitamin D has been reported to regulate innate immunity by controlling the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Objective. We investigated the effect of calcipotriol on the expression of AMPs in human cultured keratinocytes. Methods. Keratinocytes were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TNF-α, Calcipotriol and irradiated with UVB, cultured, and harvested. To assess the expression of human beta defensin-2 and LL-37 in the control group, not exposed to any stimulants, the experimental group was treated with LPS, TNF-α, or UVB, and another group was treated again with calcipotriol; reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining were performed. Results. In the experimental group treated with LPS, UVB irradiation, and TNF-α, the expression of β-defensin and LL-37 was increased more than in the control group and then decreased in the experimental group treated with calcipotriol. Conclusions. Calcipotriol suppressed HBD-2 and LL-37, which were stimulated by UVB, LPS, and TNF-α

A Case of Wernicke's Encephalopathy Following Fluorouracil-based Chemotherapy

The pyrimidine antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic agent used widely for various tumors. Common side effects of 5-FU are related to its effects on the bone marrow and gastrointestinal epithelium. Neurotoxicity caused by 5-FU is uncommon, although acute and delayed forms have been reported. Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute, neuropsychiatric syndrome resulting from thiamine deficiency, and has significant morbidity and mortality. Central nervous system neurotoxicity such as Wernicke's encephalopathy following chemotherapy with 5-FU has been reported rarely, although it has been suggested that 5-FU can produce adverse neurological effects by causing thiamine deficiency. We report a patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy, reversible with thiamine therapy, associated with 5-FU-based chemotherapy

Enhancement of angiogenic and vasculogenic potential of endothelial progenitor cells by haptoglobin

AbstractEndothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were transfected with the haptoglobin (Hp) gene to investigate the effect of Hp on cell function. Hp potentiated the gene expression of various pro-angiogenic factors in the EPCs. The Hp-modified EPCs also increased in vitro tube formation on Matrigel compared with control cells. In hindlimb ischaemia models, Hp–EPCs showed a greater ability for improving blood perfusion and recovery from ischaemic injury. These results indicate that Hp improves EPC function in neovasculogenesis, which suggests that ex vivo modification of EPCs with the Hp gene can be applied to the treatment of vascular damage

Real-time interactive digital healthcare system for post-operative breast cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background After receiving breast cancer surgery or reconstruction, shoulder dysfunctions including weakness, post-operative pain, shoulder joint instability, and limited range of motion (ROM) often occur. Due to limited ROM, patients may suffer difficulty in activities of daily living, and quality of life may be reduced. The objective of this study is to compare the effects on shoulder ROM of a real-time interactive digital healthcare system and brochure-based home rehabilitation program in post-operative breast cancer patients. Methods This study is a prospective, multi-center, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. The study aims to recruit 100 breast cancer patients exhibiting limited shoulder ROM after undergoing axillary lymph node dissection or breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Patients will be randomly assigned to two groups for 8 weeks of rehabilitation: a digital healthcare system rehabilitation (intervention) group and a brochure-based rehabilitation (control) group. The primary outcome is the change in ROM of the affected shoulder between baseline and 12 weeks after enrollment. Secondary outcomes include pain in the affected shoulder, as measured using a numerical rating scale, functional outcomes (QuickDASH scores), and quality of life (FACT-B and EQ-5D-5L scores), all of which will be measured on enrollment and 4, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter. Discussion This study will compare the effectiveness of a newly developed, augmented reality-based real-time interactive digital healthcare system with that of brochure-based home rehabilitation for improving the shoulder ROM, pain, functional outcomes, and quality of life of post-operative breast cancer patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04316156 . Registered on 20 March 2020.This study is being financially supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI19C0781)

Optimization of Enzymatic Pretreatment for the Production of Fermented Ginseng using Leaves, Stems and Roots of Ginseng

Abstract : This study sought to optimize the extraction and enzymatic treatment conditions of Panax ginseng leaves, stems, and roots for the production of fermented ginseng. The optimization enhanced the extraction of total saccharide, a nutrient and growth-activating factor for Lactobacillus bacteria. The hydrolysis of ginseng leaves, stems, and roots was tested with eight enzymes (Pentopan, Promozyme, Celluclast, Ultraflo, Pectinex, Ceremix, Viscozyme, and Tunicase). The enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were statistically optimized by the experimental design. Optimal particle size of ginseng raw material was <0.15 mm, and optimal hydrolysis occurred at a pH of 5.0-5.5, a reaction temperature of 55-60 o C, a Ceremix concentration of 1%, and a reaction time of 2 hr. Ceremix produced the highest dry matter yield and total saccharide extraction. Ginseng leaves were found to be the most suitable raw material for the production of fermented ginseng because they have higher carbohydrate and crude saponin contents than ginseng root

Predictive factors that influence the survival rates in liver cirrhosis patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Background/AimsSpontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) has been known to greatly influence the survival rate of patients with liver cirrhosis. However, the factors that affect the survival rate in patients with SBP need to be clarified.MethodsThis study enrolled 95 liver cirrhosis patients diagnosed with SBP. The laboratory findings of their serum and ascitic fluid were examined and the characteristics of the isolated microorganisms in their peritoneal fluid were analyzed.ResultsThe proportion of patients with culture-positive SBP was 41.1%, and 47 microorganisms were isolated from the ascitic fluid. The proportions of cultured bacteria that were Gram negative and Gram positive were 57.4% and 40.4%, respectively. The proportions of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, and Streptococcus species were 25.5%, 19.1%, and 19.1%, respectively. Enterococcus species represented 12.8% of the microorganisms cultured. The overall survival rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were 44.5%, 37.4%, and 32.2%, respectively. There was no relationship between the bacterial factors and the survival rate in SBP. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; P=0.001), higher serum bilirubin levels (≥3 mg/dL, P=0.002), a prolonged serum prothrombin time (i.e., international normalized ratio >2.3, P1.3 mg/dL, P<0.001), and lower glucose levels in the ascitic fluid (<50 mg/dL, P<0.001) were independent predictive factors of overall survival rate.ConclusionsHCC, higher serum bilirubin levels, a prolonged serum prothrombin time, renal dysfunction, and lower ascitic glucose levels are associated with higher mortality rates in cirrhotic patients with SBP