Characteristics of DSSC Panels with Silicone Encapsulant

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) allow light transmission and the application of various colors that make them especially suitable for building-integrated PV (BIPV) application. In order to apply DSSC modules to windows, the module has to be panelized: a DSSC module should be protected with toughened glass on the entire surface. Up to the present, it seems to be common to use double glazing with DSSC modules, with air gaps between the glass pane and the DSSC modules. Few studies have been conducted on the characteristics of various glazing methods with DSSC modules. This paper proposes a paneling method that uses silicone encapsulant, analyzing the performance through experimentation. Compared to a multilayered DSSC panel with an air gap, the encapsulant-applied panel showed 6% higher light transmittance and 7% higher electrical efficiency. The encapsulant also prevented electrolyte leakage by strengthening the seals in the DSSC module

The effect of beta1-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism on prolongation of corrected QT interval during endotracheal intubation under sevoflurane anesthesia

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation are associated with sympathoadrenal activity. Polymorphisms in the beta1-adrenergic receptor (β(1)AR) gene can alter the pathophysiology of specific diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the Ser49Gly and Arg389Gly polymorphism of the β(1)AR gene have different cardiovascular responses during endotracheal intubation under sevoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: Ninety-one healthy patients undergoing general anesthesia were enrolled. Patients underwent slow inhalation induction of anesthesia using sevoflurane in 100% oxygen. Vecuronium 0.15 mg/kg was given for muscle relaxation. Endotracheal intubation was performed by an anesthesiologist. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and the corrected QT (QTc) interval were measured before induction, before laryngoscopy, and immediately after tracheal intubation. Genomic DNA was isolated from the patients' peripheral blood and then evaluated for the β(1)AR-49 and β(1)AR-389 genes using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: No differences were found in the baseline values of MAP, HR, and the QTc interval among β(1)AR-49 and β(1)AR-389, respectively. In the case of β(1)AR-49, the QTc interval change immediately after tracheal intubation was significantly greater in Ser/Ser genotypes than in Ser/Gly genotypes. No differences were observed immediately after tracheal intubation in MAP and HR for β(1)AR-49 and β(1)AR-389. CONCLUSIONS: We found an association between the Ser49 homozygote gene of β(1)AR-49 polymorphism and increased QTc prolongation during endotracheal intubation with sevoflurane anesthesia. Thus, β(1)AR-49 polymorphism may be useful in predicting the risk of arrhythmia during endotracheal intubation in patients with long QT syndrome.ope

PPM1A Controls Diabetic Gene Programming through Directly Dephosphorylating PPAR?? at Ser273

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) is a master regulator of adipose tissue biology. In obesity, phosphorylation of PPAR gamma at Ser273 (pSer273) by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) orchestrates diabetic gene reprogramming via dysregulation of specific gene expression. Although many recent studies have focused on the development of non-classical agonist drugs that inhibit the phosphorylation of PPAR gamma at Ser273, the molecular mechanism of PPAR gamma dephosphorylation at Ser273 is not well characterized. Here, we report that protein phosphatase Mg2+/Mn2+-dependent 1A (PPM1A) is a novel PPAR gamma phosphatase that directly dephosphorylates Ser273 and restores diabetic gene expression which is dysregulated by pSer273. The expression of PPM1A significantly decreases in two models of insulin resistance: diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and db/db mice, in which it negatively correlates with pSer273. Transcriptomic analysis using microarray and genotype-tissue expression (GTEx) data in humans shows positive correlations between PPM1A and most of the genes that are dysregulated by pSer273. These findings suggest that PPM1A dephosphorylates PPAR gamma at Ser273 and represents a potential target for the treatment of obesity-linked metabolic disorders

New particle formation events observed at the King Sejong Station, Antarctic Peninsula - Part 2: Link with the oceanic biological activities

Abstract. Marine biota is an important source of atmospheric aerosol particles in the remote marine atmosphere. However, the relationship between new particle formation and marine biota is poorly quantified. Long-term observations (from 2009 to 2016) of the physical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles measured at the Antarctic Peninsula (King Sejong Station; 62.2∘ S, 58.8∘ W) and satellite-derived estimates of the biological characteristics were analyzed to identify the link between new particle formation and marine biota. New particle formation events in the Antarctic atmosphere showed distinct seasonal variations, with the highest values occurring when the air mass originated from the ocean domain during the productive austral summer (December, January and February). Interestingly, new particle formation events were more frequent in the air masses that originated from the Bellingshausen Sea than in those that originated from the Weddell Sea. The monthly mean number concentration of nanoparticles (2.5–10 nm in diameter) was >2-fold higher when the air masses passed over the Bellingshausen Sea than the Weddell Sea, whereas the biomass of phytoplankton in the Weddell Sea was more than ∼70 % higher than that of the Bellingshausen Sea during the austral summer period. Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is of marine origin and its oxidative products are known to be one of the major components in the formation of new particles. Both satellite-derived estimates of the biological characteristics (dimethylsulfoniopropionate, DMSP; precursor of DMS) and phytoplankton taxonomic composition and in situ methanesulfonic acid (84 daily measurements during the summer period in 2013 and 2014) analysis revealed that DMS(P)-rich phytoplankton were more dominant in the Bellingshausen Sea than in the Weddell Sea. Furthermore, the number concentration of nanoparticles was positively correlated with the biomass of phytoplankton during the period when DMS(P)-rich phytoplankton predominate. These results indicate that oceanic DMS emissions could play a key role in the formation of new particles; moreover, the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton could affect the formation of new particles in the Antarctic Ocean

Realizable Minimally Invasive 1-Day Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery: No General Anesthesia, No Hemovac Insertion, No Skin Suture Surgery, and Early Ambulation

Objective The lumbar interbody fusion surgery, patients commonly have severe pain, requiring adequate bed rest for a long time. We performed a 1-day minimally invasive spine (MIS) lumbar interbody fusion that required no hemovac insertion and no skin suture and led to early ambulation. Here, we report the surgical procedure and results. Methods This study was designed as a retrospective review. From January 2013 to August 2014, 49 patients who received the MIS TLIF for 1-day MIS lumbar interbody fusion surgery were included in this study. The surgical procedures performed were as follows: (1) epidural catheter insertion; (2) midline subdermal dissection procedure; (3) MIS TLIF; (4) bleeding control procedure; (5) percutaneous transpedicular screwing; (6) tight subdermal plan suture; (7) skin sealing procedures. Postoperatively, wound dressing was not needed. Epidural catheter was removed on the second day after the operation. Results Average intraoperative bleeding was 128.6 mL per level. The average operation time was 78.9 min. per level. An average midline skin incision was 2.8 cm per level. The possible ambulation time was 0.94±0.88 day. The discharge time after antibiotic injection for 3 days was 4.88±1.51 days. In the corresponding order of preoperative and immediate postoperative, 3-month, 6-month, and final follow-up, Postoperative VAS (back), VAS (leg) and ODI improved significantly immediate postoperatively (p<0.0001). Postoperatively, there was no cases of revision due to hematoma. Conclusion The results indicated good clinical results of the 1-day minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion surgery, without any serious complications

Effect of multiple debris flow countermeasures on flow characteristics and topographic changes through real-scale experiment

In this study, to investigate the effect of multiple countermeasure on the flow characteristics of debris flows, a real-scale experiment was conducted in a natural gully by reproducing a debris flow with a installation of multiple countermeasures. In addition, the topographic changes before and after experiment by debris flow were investigated using UAV-LiDAR. Based on the experiment results, the effect of multiple countermeasures and the topographic changes against the gully erosion and deposition caused by debris flow were also analyzed. The installation of multiple countermeasures significantly decreased the frontal velocity of debris flow. Furthermore, the countermeasure induced the deposition of debris material on the back of the countermeasure

Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for L5-S1 Foraminal Disc Herniation with Superior Migration using Contralateral Interlaminar Approach: A Technical Case Report

In cases of L5-S1 foraminal disc herniation with superior migration, it is very difficult to access using rigid endoscope. We attempted a percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) via a contralateral interlaminar approach to remove the symptomatic disc and preserve the functional structures. Between January 2013 and January 2014, five patients who received PELD for the disc herniation via the approach were included in this study. Through the approach, we could expose the exiting nerve root without structural damage. We confirmed the appropriate decompression of the lesion with an immediate postoperative MRI, and the clinical outcome was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) score. In all cases, the herniation was removed appropriately. The mean pre-operative VAS score was decreased at the post-operative state, from 7.8±0.84 to 1.4±0.55. We obtained excellent clinical outcomes in treating the migrated disc herniation at the level using PELD via a contralateral interlaminar approach

A Novel Technique of the Full Endoscopic Interlaminar Contralateral Approach for Symptomatic Extraforaminal Juxtafacet Cysts

Extraforaminal juxtafacet cyst is rare and present a surgical challenge due to its anatomical location. This study aimed to introduce the surgical technique of interlaminar contralateral endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy (ICELF) for extraforaminal juxtafacet cyst removal and reveal its approach-related benefits. The endoscope was docked on the ipsilateral spinolaminar junction and access the contralateral foraminal area through the contralateral sublaminar space created by the fine drilling. As the foraminal was enlarged by bony drilling, the endoscope was introduced deeper to the extraforaminal area without violation of the foraminal disc. Combined foraminal stenosis was also resolved while exploring the foraminal space. Subsequently, the extraforaminal cyst was safely and entirely removed while exposing the cyst-nerve root adhesion site with an endoscopic view looking up obliquely. Radiating pain in the right leg, back pain, leg hypesthesia, and ankle weakness improved. ICELF for the treatment of extraforaminal JFC can be an alternative surgical method to resolve symptomatic foraminal stenosis and the cyst simultaneously. The entire cyst contour and the site of cyst-nerve root adhesion can be detected without nerve root retraction, and meticulous dissection is possible without violating the cystic wall using the full endoscopic contralateral approach

Anti-allergic effect of luteolin in mice with allergic asthma and rhinitis

Abstract Aim of the study : Results: after the oVa challenge, the number of eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in BaL fluid was significantly increased in group B, compared to group a (p &lt; 0.001). mice in group C had no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05). on the other hand, group D showed a significant decrease in all inflammatory cells compared to group B (p &lt; 0.05). also, group D showed a significant decrease in iL-4, iL-5 and iL-13 in their lung homogenate compared to groups B and C (p &lt; 0.05). group D also showed a significant decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration after luteolin treatment (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Luteolin had an anti-allergic effect in a murine model of allergic asthma and rhinitis