Camera for QUasars in EArly uNiverse (CQUEAN)

We describe the overall characteristics and the performance of an optical CCD camera system, Camera for QUasars in EArly uNiverse (CQUEAN), which is being used at the 2.1 m Otto Struve Telescope of the McDonald Observatory since 2010 August. CQUEAN was developed for follow-up imaging observations of red sources such as high redshift quasar candidates (z >= 5), Gamma Ray Bursts, brown dwarfs, and young stellar objects. For efficient observations of the red objects, CQUEAN has a science camera with a deep depletion CCD chip which boasts a higher quantum efficiency at 0.7 - 1.1 um than conventional CCD chips. The camera was developed in a short time scale (~ one year), and has been working reliably. By employing an auto-guiding system and a focal reducer to enhance the field of view on the classical Cassegrain focus, we achieve a stable guiding in 20 minute exposures, an imaging quality with FWHM >= 0.6" over the whole field (4.8' * 4.8'), and a limiting magnitude of z = 23.4 AB mag at 5-sigma with one hour total integration time.Comment: Accepted for publication in PASP. 26 pages including 5 tables and 24 figure

Auto-Guiding System for CQUEAN (Camera for QUasars in EArly uNiverse)

To perform imaging observation of optically red objects such as high redshift quasars and brown dwarfs, the Center for the Exploration of the Origin of the Universe (CEOU) recently developed an optical CCD camera, Camera for QUasars in EArly uNiverse(CQUEAN), which is sensitive at 0.7-1.1 um. To enable observations with long exposures, we developed an auto-guiding system for CQUEAN. This system consists of an off-axis mirror, a baffle, a CCD camera, a motor and a differential decelerator. To increase the number of available guiding stars, we designed a rotating mechanism for the off-axis guiding camera. The guiding field can be scanned along the 10 acrmin ring offset from the optical axis of the telescope. Combined with the auto-guiding software of the McDonald Observatory, we confirmed that a stable image can be obtained with an exposure time as long as 1200 seconds.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Korean Astronomical Society (JKAS

Are coveralls required as personal protective equipment during the management of COVID-19 patients?

Objectives Few studies have investigated the contamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the management of patients with severe-to-critical coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine the necessity of coveralls and foot covers for body protection during the management of COVID-19 patients. Methods PPE samples were collected from the coveralls of physicians exiting a room after the management of a patient with severe-to-critical COVID-19 within 14 days after the patient’s symptom onset. The surface of coveralls was categorized into coverall-only parts (frontal surface of the head, anterior neck, dorsal surface of the foot cover, and back and hip) and gown-covered parts (the anterior side of the forearm and the abdomen). Sampling of the high-contact surfaces in the patient’s environment was performed. We attempted to identify significant differences in contamination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between the coverall-only and gown-covered parts. Results A total of 105 swabs from PPEs and 28 swabs from patient rooms were collected. Of the PPE swabs, only three (2.8%) swabs from the gown-covered parts were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. However, 23 of the 28 sites (82.1%) from patient rooms were contaminated. There was a significant difference in the contamination of PPE between the coverall-only and gown-covered parts (0.0 vs 10.0%, p = 0.022). Conclusions Coverall contamination rarely occurred while managing severe-to-critical COVID-19 patients housed in negative pressure rooms in the early stages of the illness. Long-sleeved gowns may be used in the management of COVID-19 patients.This work was supported by Grant No. 02-2020-020 from the SNUBH Research Fund

Determinants of the Intention to Protect Personal Information among Facebook Users

This study aimed to examine predictors of the intention to protect personal information on Facebook. We conducted an online survey of 679 Facebook users in the Republic of Korea. The findings of this study showed that usefulness and ease of use had significant effects on attitudes toward protection behavior. The results also revealed that risk factors (privacy risk severity and vulnerability) had significant effects on protective behaviors. Based on our findings, we discussed the information protection of privacy on Faceboo

Differential Evolution between Monotocous and Polytocous Species

One of the most important traits for both animal science and livestock production is the number of offspring for a species. This study was performed to identify differentially evolved genes and their distinct functions that influence the number of offspring at birth by comparative analysis of eight monotocous mammals and seven polytocous mammals in a number of scopes: specific amino acid substitution with site-wise adaptive evolution, gene expansion and specific orthologous group. The mutually exclusive amino acid substitution among the 16 mammalian species identified five candidate genes. These genes were both directly and indirectly related to ovulation. Furthermore, in monotocous mammals, the EPH gene family was found to have undergone expansion. Previously, the EPHA4 gene was found to positively affect litter size in pigs and supports the possibility of the EPH gene playing a role in determining the number of offspring per birth. The identified genes in this study offer a basis from which the differences between monotocous and polytocous species can be studied. Furthermore, these genes may harbor some clues to the underlying mechanism, which determines litter size and may prove useful for livestock breeding strategies

Morphological and functional characteristics of mitral annular calcification and their relationship to stroke.

BACKGROUND:Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with risk of stroke. This study aimed to define the morphological and functional characteristics of MAC that are related to stroke. METHODS:A total of 460 subjects with MAC from transthoracic echocardiography in a single center from 2012 to 2016 was retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were classified into two groups according to history of stroke [Group 1 (n = 366): without stroke; Group 2 (n = 94): with stroke]. Morphological and functional features of MAC on echocardiogram were scored from 0 to 3 according to MAC mobility, presence of echodense mass with central echolucencies in the periannular region suggesting caseous necrosis, and functional stenosis. RESULTS:Significantly more patients in group 2 were men and had history of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, or infective endocarditis. Although MAC thickness and extent did not differ between the two groups, group 2 showed a considerably higher MAC score than group 1 (0.50 ± 0.77 vs. 0.23 ±0.52 p<0.001) as a result of the higher prevalence of each component in group 2 [mobility (22 vs. 11%, p = 0.003), echodense mass with central areas of echolucencies suggesting caseous necrosis (23 vs. 7%, p<0.001), and functional mitral stenosis (12 vs. 7%, p = 0.042)]. On logistic regression analysis, MAC score was independently associated with stroke and showed significant incremental value to demographic factors and comorbidities in association with stroke in a consecutive manner. CONCLUSIONS:In conclusion, morphological and functional characteristics of MAC had incremental value in association with stroke over traditional risk factors. MAC score consisting of MAC mobility, typical echodense mass with central echolucencies suggesting caseous necrosis, and functional mitral stenosis was independently associated with stroke. MAC with high-risk features may act as a source of stroke or more potent composite surrogate markers for stroke-related risk factors

Analysis of genetic diversity of yuzu (<i>Citrus junos</i> Sieb. Ex Tanaka) using single nucleotide polymorphisms identified through RNA-seq and whole-genome resequencing analyses

Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. Ex Tanaka) is widely cultivated in Asia. However, a system for variety identification has not been developed yet. RNA-seq analysis was performed to identify variants among five yuzu samples including a seedless variety. However, only four variants were found, suggesting that the seedless trait might originate from bud mutations. To identify more variants, whole-genome resequencing was performed. A total of 140 reliable variants were screened. Based on these variants, 30 high-resolution melting (HRM) markers were developed. After genotyping 265 yuzu samples using the HRM markers, the yuzu samples were classified into 18 types. Three yuzu-like samples (B-37-1, B-UK2, and B-MD6-8) showing different fruit morphologies and off-type HRM peak patterns were assumed to originate from interspecific hybridisation. To identify the parent species of these yuzu-like samples, nucleotide sequences of a hypervariable chloroplast genomic region and a nuclear CitRWP gene responsible for nucellar embryony were obtained. Chloroplast genome sequence analysis indicated that the maternal parents of B-37-1 and B-MD6-8 were yuzu, whereas the B-UK2 sequence was identical to that of sweet orange. Moreover, the CitRWP sequences indicated that the male parents of B-37-1, B-UK2, and B-MD6-8 were mandarin, yuzu, and pummelo, respectively.</p

Distinct Reactivity of a Mononuclear Peroxocobalt(III) Species toward Activation of Nitriles

A mononuclear side-on peroxocobalt(III) complex with a tetradentate macrocyclic ligand, [Co-III(TBDAP)(O-2)](+) (1), shows a novel and facile mode of dioxygenase-like reactivity with nitriles (R-C N; R = Me, Et, and Ph) to produce the corresponding mononuclear hydroximatocobalt(III) complexes, [CoIII(TBDAP)(R-C(=NO)O)](+), in which the nitrile moiety is oxidized by two oxygen atoms of the peroxo group. The overall reaction proceeds in one-pot under ambient conditions (ca. 1 h, 40 degrees C). O-18-Labeling experiments confirm that both oxygen atoms are derived from the peroxo ligand. The structures of all products, hydroximatocobalt(III) complexes, were confirmed by X-ray crystallography and various spectroscopic techniques. Kinetic studies including the Hammett analysis and isotope labeling experiments suggest that the mechanistic mode of 1 for activation of nitriles occurs-via a concerted mechanism. This novel reaction would be significantly valuable for expanding the chemistry for nitrile activation and utilization

Performance of STANDARD(TM) M10 SARS-CoV-2 Assay for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 from a Nasopharyngeal Swab

The STANDARD(TM) M10 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) assay (M10 assay) (SD Biosensor Inc., Suwon, Korea) is a rapid, fully-automated, cartridge-type molecular diagnostic assay that detects SARS-CoV-2 RNA using primers and probes for each target gene (ORF1ab gene, E gene). This study evaluated its performance by assessing its concordance with the approved SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR assay. Tests were performed on 80 nasopharyngeal samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the M10 assay were 100%. The M10 assay effectively diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it was comparable to the approved SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR assay. It is a viable point-of-care test due to its short turnaround time.N

Oxidation of Naphthalene with a Manganese(IV) Bis(hydroxo) Complex in the Presence of Acid

Naphthalene oxidation with metal-oxygen intermediates is a difficult reaction in environmental and biological chemistry. Herein, we report that a Mn-IV bis(hydroxo) complex, which was fully characterized by various physicochemical methods, such as ESI-MS, UV/Vis, and EPR analysis, X-ray diffraction, and XAS, can be employed for the oxidation of naphthalene in the presence of acid to afford 1,4-naphthoquinone. Redox titration of the Mn-IV bis(hydroxo) complex gave a one-electron reduction potential of 1.09 V, which is the most positive potential for all reported nonheme Mn-IV bis(hydroxo) species as well as Mn-IV oxo analogue&amp; Kinetic studies, including kinetic isotope effect analysis, suggest that the naphthalene oxidation occurs through a rate-determining electron transfer process