Determination of Cutting Date and Interval on Native Grass Management of Agricultural Waterways in South Korea

Agricultural waterways provide a buffer zone between crop fields and adjacent rivers or streams. Waterways are important resource for agriculture water management, water quality and biodiversity conservation. The total linear distance of waterway in Korea is about 180,000 km, and about 40% are concrete and about 60% are grassed waterways. At present, the percentage of concrete waterways is increasing because of their water management efficiency. Some argue that continued expansion of concrete waterways is not sustainable because it leads to potential-degradation of the earth\u27s environment. This concern has led to renewed efforts to use grassed waterways as an alternative to concrete. In addition, grassed waterways enhance the environment-friendly image of agriculture that Korea farmers want to promote. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of cutting date and interval of native grasses for water management efficiency of agricultural waterway

Cultural Practices to Reduce Cd Content in Edible Parts of Staple Crops in Korea

Objectives of this study were to determine the uptake and translocation of Cd in rice plant from soil with applying the water management and soil ameliorators and to investigate the correlations among heavy metal contents in the brown rice, soil pH and chemical species of Cd existing in soil by sequential extracting method with paddy soil contaminated with Cd near abandoned mine. To identify the effect of soil ameliorators on Cd uptake in rice plants, compost and lime were treated. Plants were grown with irrigation water concentrated by 0.01mg kg^ of cadmium in two soil types (sandy loam and clay loam) with treatments of intermittent irrigation and continuous submersion conditions. Compared to intermittent irrigation plots, average Eh value in the continuous submersion plots was low at 136.7mV whereas pH value was high at 0.3. Eh value was decreased in the treatment of soil ameliorator while pH value was increased by 0.2～0.3. Cd content of leaves and brown rice had significantly positive correlation with Eh value in soils while was negatively correlated with soil pH. At the harvest stage, Cd content in the leaves and brown rice was decreased in the continuous submersion plots by 30% relative to the intermittent irrigation plots. In case of soil ameliorator applied plots, Cd content of leaves and brown rice was lower by 35% than that of N, P, K fertilizer plots, respectively. Compared to the soil types, Cd content of leaves and brown rice in sandy loam soil was lower by 64 and 37% than that in clay loam soil, respectively. Order of reduction to Cd uptake was the compost and lime mixture plot>silicate plot>lime plot. However, the effect of Cd uptake reduction by soil ameliorator was decreased in the N, P, K+compost and N, P, K+phosphate plots. Cd uptake reduction by water management and soil ameliorator was more effective in the sandy loam soil than that in the clay loam soil.Special Revie

Molecular Evolution Patterns in Metastatic Lymph Nodes Reflect the Differential Treatment Response of Advanced Primary Lung Cancer

Tumor heterogeneity influences the clinical outcome of patients with cancer, and the diagnostic method to measure the tumor heterogeneity needs to be developed. We analyzed genomic features on pairs of primary and multiple metastatic lymph nodes from six patients with lung cancer using whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing. Although somatic single-nucleotide variants were shared in primary lung cancer and metastases, tumor evolution predicted by the pattern of genomic alterations was matched to anatomic location of the tumors. Four of six cases exhibited a branched clonal evolution pattern. Lymph nodes with acquired somatic variants demonstrated resistance to the cancer treatment. In this study, we demonstrated that multiple biopsies and sequencing strategies for different tumor regions are required for a comprehensive understanding of the landscape of genetic alteration and for guiding targeted therapy in advanced primary lung cancer. Cancer Res; 76(22); 6568-76. ©2016 AACR

Effect of Caregiver Driven Robot-Assisted In-Ward Training in Subacute Stroke Patients: A Case Series

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training in subacute stroke patients.MethodsA retrospective evaluation was performed for patients treated with caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training to retain gait function from June 2014 and December 2016. All patients received more than 2 weeks of caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training after undergoing conventional programs. The robot was used as a sitting device, a standing frame, or a high-walker depending on functional status of the patient. Patients were evaluated before and after robot training. Patient records were assessed by Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC).ResultsInitially, patients used the robot as a sitting device (n=6), a standing frame (n=7), or a partial body-weight support high-walker (n=2). As patient functions were improved, usage level of the robot was changed to the next level. At the end of the treatment, the robot was used as a sitting device (n=1), a standing frame (n=6), or high-walker (n=8). Scores of K-MBI (Δ17.47±10.72) and FIM (Δ19.80±12.34) were improved in all patients.ConclusionPatients' usage level of the robot and functional scores were improved. Therefore, performing additional caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training is feasible and beneficial for subacute stroke patients

Effect of neck extension on the advancement of tracheal tubes from the nasal cavity to the oropharynx in nasotracheal intubation: a randomized controlled trial

Background Clinicians sometimes encounter resistance in advancing a tracheal tube, which is inserted via a nostril, from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx during nasotracheal intubation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neck extension on the advancement of tracheal tubes from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx during nasotracheal intubation. Methods Patients were randomized to the neck extension group (E group) or neutral position group (N group) for this randomized controlled trial. After induction of anesthesia, a nasal RAE tube was inserted via a nostril. For the E group, an anesthesiologist advanced the tube from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx with the patients neck extended. For the N group, an anesthesiologist advanced the tube without neck extension. If the tube was successfully advanced into the oropharynx within two attempts by the same maneuver according to the assigned group, the case was defined as success. We compared the success rate of tube advancement between the two groups. Results Thirty-two patients in the E group and 33 in the N group completed the trial. The success rate of tube passage during the first two attempts was significantly higher in the E group than in the N group (93.8% vs. 60.6%; odds ratio = 9.75, 95% CI = [1.98, 47.94], p = 0.002). Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03377114, registered on 13 December 2017