The effect of music therapy on mood, perceived exertion, and exercise adherence of patients participating in a rehabilitative upper extremity exercise program

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of music therapy on perceived exertion, mood and exercise adherence of patients participating in a group upper extremity exercise program. Twenty two patients ranging in age from 22 to 86 participated in a occupational therapy upper extremity exercise (OT-UEE) program and a music therapy upper extremity exercise (MT-UEE) program for two consecutive days. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and Feeling Scale (FS) were used for participants to rate their perceived exertion levels and mood change respectively. Each session was videotaped for data collection. Analysis of data revealed that the use of music during exercises significantly reduced perceived exertion (p=0.0011) and enhanced mood (p=0.0401), although patients' exercise adherence between the two groups was not significantly different. The physiological and psychological benefits of music on rehab patients which were shown through examination of patients' perceived exertion and mood changes suggest potential benefits for exercise performances

Design of a Wideband Printed Patch Dipole Antenna with a Balanced On-Board Feeding Network

This paper proposes a wideband printed patch dipole antenna with a simple on-board feeding network. The proposed antenna is composed of two dipole radiators, a transmission line, and an on-board feeding network with a chip balun. The dipole radiators are printed on a substrate, and the edges of the radiators are truncated to create a hexagonal shape with wide impedance-matching characteristics. The chip balun is embedded in an RO4003C printed circuit board (PCB) to excite differential feeding to each radiator with a 180° phase difference. The proposed antenna is optimized using a CST Studio full electromagnetic software tool, and it is fabricated and measured in an anechoic chamber. The measured fractional bandwidth for the reflection coefficient below −10 dB is 79.5%, and the proposed antenna has a measured gain of 7.1 dBi at 3.5 GHz

High performance dye sensitized solar cells by adding titanate co-adsorbant

The open circuit voltage and the short circuit current density of dye sensitized solar cells were increased by adding a titanate co-adsorbant as a blocking agent. This blocking agent effectively prevents back electron transfer. As a result, DSSCs with titanate co-adsorbant showed significantly increased energy conversion efficiency.close0

Synergistic Effects of Cilostazol and Probucol on ER Stress-Induced Hepatic Steatosis via Heme Oxygenase-1-Dependent Activation of Mitochondrial Biogenesis

The selective type-3 phosphodiesterase inhibitor cilostazol and the antihyperlipidemic agent probucol have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic properties. Moreover, cilostazol and probucol can regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. However, the combinatorial effect of cilostazol and probucol on mitochondrial biogenesis remains unknown. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a well-known causative factor of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which can impair mitochondrial function in hepatocytes. Here, we investigated the synergistic effects of cilostazol and probucol on mitochondrial biogenesis and ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis. A synergistic effect of cilostazol and probucol on HO-1 and mitochondrial biogenesis gene expression was found in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and murine primary hepatocytes. Furthermore, in an animal model of ER stress involving tunicamycin, combinatorial treatment with cilostazol and probucol significantly increased the expression of HO-1 and mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes and proteins, whereas it downregulated serum ALT, eIF2 phosphorylation, and CHOP expression, as well as the lipogenesis-related genes SREBP-1c and FAS. Based on these results, we conclude that cilostazol and probucol exhibit a synergistic effect on the activation of mitochondrial biogenesis via upregulation of HO-1, which confers protection against ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis

NGL-1/LRRC4C Deletion Moderately Suppresses Hippocampal Excitatory Synapse Development and Function in an Input-Independent Manner

Netrin-G ligand-1 (NGL-1), also known as LRRC4C, is a postsynaptic densities (PSDs)-95-interacting postsynaptic adhesion molecule that interacts trans-synaptically with presynaptic netrin-G1. NGL-1 and its family member protein NGL-2 are thought to promote excitatory synapse development through largely non-overlapping neuronal pathways. While NGL-2 is critical for excitatory synapse development in specific dendritic segments of neurons in an input-specific manner, whether NGL-1 has similar functions is unclear. Here, we show that Lrrc4c deletion in male mice moderately suppresses excitatory synapse development and function, but surprisingly, does so in an input-independent manner. While NGL-1 is mainly detected in the stratum lacunosum moleculare (SLM) layer of the hippocampus relative to the stratum radiatum (SR) layer, NGL-1 deletion leads to decreases in the number of PSDs in both SLM and SR layers in the ventral hippocampus. In addition, both SLM and SR excitatory synapses display suppressed short-term synaptic plasticity in the ventral hippocampus. These morphological and functional changes are either absent or modest in the dorsal hippocampus. The input-independent synaptic changes induced by Lrrc4c deletion involve abnormal translocation of NGL-2 from the SR to SLM layer. These results suggest that Lrrc4c deletion moderately suppresses hippocampal excitatory synapse development and function in an input-independent manner

The negative regulator SMAX1 controls mycorrhizal symbiosis and strigolactone biosynthesis in rice

Abstract: Most plants associate with beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that facilitate soil nutrient acquisition. Prior to contact, partner recognition triggers reciprocal genetic remodelling to enable colonisation. The plant Dwarf14-Like (D14L) receptor conditions pre-symbiotic perception of AM fungi, and also detects the smoke constituent karrikin. D14L-dependent signalling mechanisms, underpinning AM symbiosis are unknown. Here, we present the identification of a negative regulator from rice, which operates downstream of the D14L receptor, corresponding to the homologue of the Arabidopsis thaliana Suppressor of MAX2-1 (AtSMAX1) that functions in karrikin signalling. We demonstrate that rice SMAX1 is a suppressor of AM symbiosis, negatively regulating fungal colonisation and transcription of crucial signalling components and conserved symbiosis genes. Similarly, rice SMAX1 negatively controls strigolactone biosynthesis, demonstrating an unexpected crosstalk between the strigolactone and karrikin signalling pathways. We conclude that removal of SMAX1, resulting from D14L signalling activation, de-represses essential symbiotic programmes and increases strigolactone hormone production

2023 Korean Endocrine Society Consensus Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Primary Aldosteronism

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common, yet underdiagnosed cause of secondary hypertension. It is characterized by an overproduction of aldosterone, leading to hypertension and/or hypokalemia. Despite affecting between 5.9% and 34% of patients with hypertension, PA is frequently missed due to a lack of clinical awareness and systematic screening, which can result in significant cardiovascular complications. To address this, medical societies have developed clinical practice guidelines to improve the management of hypertension and PA. The Korean Endocrine Society, drawing on a wealth of research, has formulated new guidelines for PA. A task force has been established to prepare PA guidelines, which encompass epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. The Korean clinical guidelines for PA aim to deliver an evidence-based protocol for PA diagnosis, treatment, and patient monitoring. These guidelines are anticipated to ease the burden of this potentially curable condition

Preparation of liquid metal marbles and their application of Lorentz force-driven actuator

Department of Materials Science and Engineeringclos

Catalytic properties of wheat phytase that favorably degrades long-chain inorganic polyphosphate.

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to determine catalytic properties of wheat phytase with exopolyphosphatase activity toward medium-chain and long-chain inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) substrates for comparative purpose.MethodsExopolyphosphatase assay of wheat phytase toward polyP75 (medium-chain polyP with average 75 phosphate residues) and polyP1150 (long-chain polyP with average 1150 phosphate residues) was performed at pH 5.2 and pH 7.5. Its activity toward these substrates was investigated in the presence of Mg2+, Ni+2, Co2+, Mn2+, or EDTA. Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum reaction velocity (Vmax) were determined from Lineweaver-Burk plot with polyP75 or polyP1150. Monophosphate esterase activity toward pNPP (p-nitrophenyl phosphate) was assayed in the presence of polyP75 or polyP1150.ResultsWheat phytase dephosphorylated polyP75 and polyP1150 at pH 7.5 more effectively than that at pH 5.2. Its exopolyphosphatase activity toward polyP75 at pH 5.2 was 1.4-fold higher than that toward polyP1150 whereas its activity toward polyP75 at pH 7.5 was 1.4-fold lower than that toward polyP1150. Regarding enzyme kinetics, Km for polyP75 was 1.4-fold lower than that for polyP1150 while Vmax for polyP1150 was 2-fold higher than that for polyP75. The presence of Mg2+, Ni+2, Co2+, Mn2+, or EDTA (1 or 5 mM) exhibited no inhibitory effect on its activity toward polyP75. Its activity toward polyP1150 was inhibited by 1 mM of Ni+2 or Co2+ and 5 mM of Ni+2, Co2+, or Mg2+. Ni+2 inhibited its activity toward polyP1150 the most strongly among tested additives. Both polyP75 and polyP1150 inhibited the monophosphate esterase activity of wheat phytase toward pNPP in a dose-dependent manner.ConclusionWheat phytase with an unexpected exopolyphosphatase activity has potential as a therapeutic tool and a next-generational feed additive for controlling long-chain polyP-induced inappropriate inflammation from Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella typhimurium infection in public health and animal husbandry

Colloidal Processing of Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate Ceramics

Well-dispersed aqueous slurries of fine ceramic powders with high solids loading are often required for various shape forming techniques such as slip and tape casting in order to fabricate advanced ceramics with a dense and uniform microstructure. Colloidal processing of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) powders was conducted at various pH using ammonium polymethacrylate as a dispersant. Suspensions were characterized by viscosity and zeta-potential measurements. The effect of pH on polymer adsorption and the rheological behavior of the slurries were investigated and stabilization mechanisms discussed. Through optimization of the dispersant concentration and pH, solids loadings of the suspensions up to 50 vol.% with a relatively low viscosity were obtained