Synthesis and Characterization of Drug-Loaded Poly( ε

We produced drug-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/silica hybrid nanofibrous scaffolds with various silica sol contents (0 vol%, 10 vol%, 15 vol%, and 20 vol%) using electrospinning and examined their physicochemical properties, mechanical properties, drug release behavior, and in vitro biocompatibility to evaluate their potential application for guided bone regeneration (GBR). The loading efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) drug was remarkably enhanced by hybridizing the PCL solution with the silica sol. All produced hybrid scaffolds had a highly nanofibrous structure, in which the silica phase was homogeneously hybridized with the PCL polymer, while preserving their intrinsic characteristics. This led to considerable increases in hydrophilicity and mechanical properties (e.g., ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus). In addition, the release rate and cumulative maximum amounts of the TCH from the hybrid scaffolds significantly increased with increasing the silica content, while all produced hybrid nanofibrous scaffolds showed good biocompatibility assessed by in vitro cell tests

Design and Implementation of a Storage Management Method for Content Distribution

The SMART system is a special purpose server developed by ETRI and designed for efficient streaming services over high speed networks. The SMART server has one or more special purpose NS (Network-Storage) card. The NS card has several disks that store multimedia contents. However all of the multimedia contents to be serviced cannot be stored at the server. In this paper, we will describe the storage management mechanism in design and implementation aspects. With this storage management mechanism, the SMART server can provide effectiveness in managing storage and distributing some contents from a source station to streaming service servers

The effect of internal control weakness under section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on audit fees

In this paper, we investigate the effect of the enactment of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002 on audit pricing, using a sample of 252 firms that received an Ineffective audit opinion and other firms that received clean audit opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of SOX. Our analyses show the following. First, we find that auditors charge significantly higher audit fees for all firms in the post-SOX period than in the pre-SOX period. Second, we find that auditors opinions on the weakness in internal control (WIC) are positively associated with audit fees, and that the positive association between the two is pronounced primarily in the post-SOX period, but not in the pre-SOX period. Third, we find that clients with WIC problems that are highly levered and/or report losses pay incrementally higher audit fees during the post- SOX period. We also find that Big 4 audit fee premiums increase significantly for all clients during the post-SOX period, regardless of whether the clients have WIC or not. Overall, our results suggest that auditors, in terms of their behavior and pricing mechanism, responded to an upward shift in the strength of the legal liability regime caused by the SOX enactment

The Effect of Internal Control Weakness Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Audit Fees

In this paper, we investigate the effect of the enactment of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002 on audit pricing, using a sample of 252 firms that received an Ineffective audit opinion and other firms that received clean audit opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of SOX. Our analyses show the following. First, we find that auditors charge significantly higher audit fees for all firms in the post-SOX period than in the pre-SOX period. Second, we find that auditors opinions on the weakness in internal control (WIC) are positively associated with audit fees, and that the positive association between the two is pronounced primarily in the post-SOX period, but not in the pre-SOX period. Third, we find that clients with WIC problems that are highly levered and/or report losses pay incrementally higher audit fees during the post- SOX period. We also find that Big 4 audit fee premiums increase significantly for all clients during the post-SOX period, regardless of whether the clients have WIC or not. Overall, our results suggest that auditors, in terms of their behavior and pricing mechanism, responded to an upward shift in the strength of the legal liability regime caused by the SOX enactment

Effect of Isolated Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty on Subjective Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms

ObjectivesThe aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the effect of isolated uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) on subjective obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms in adult patients regardless of the response to surgery, and ultimately 2) to investigate the differences in changes in subjective OSA symptoms between successful and unsuccessful surgery groups.MethodsTwenty consecutive adult patients who underwent isolated UPPP were enrolled. Pre- and postoperative subjective OSA symptoms (snoring, witnessed apnea, daytime sleepiness, morning headache, daytime fatigue, restless sleep, difficulty with morning arousal) and polysomnographic data were evaluated in all subjects. Changes in subjective OSA symptoms before and after surgery were investigated in the successful (n=11) and unsuccessful (n=9) groups. Surgical success was defined as a reduction of at least 50% in the preoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and a postoperative AHI less than 20 per hour.ResultsAfter isolated UPPP, all subjective OSA symptoms changed significantly in the patients, especially in the successful group. In the unsuccessful group, snoring, witnessed apnea and daytime fatigue changed significantly, while other symptoms did not change significantly after surgery.ConclusionIsolated UPPP may improve subjective OSA symptoms in adult patients whom surgery was successful or unsuccessful. However, after isolated UPPP, the improvements in subjective OSA symptoms in the unsuccessful group may be different from those in the successful group

Optimal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Level in Korean Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate optimal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) level, to examine the factors affecting optimal CPAP level, and to develop a predictive equation for optimal CPAP level in Korean patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).MethodsA total of 202 patients with OSAS who underwent successful manual titration for CPAP treatment were included in this study. Correlations between the optimal CPAP level and baseline data including anthropometric and polysomnographic variables were analyzed. A predictive equation for optimal CPAP level was developed based on anthropometric and polysomonographic data.ResultsThe mean optimal CPAP level in 202 patients with OSAS was 7.8±2.3 cm H2O. The mean optimal CPAP level in the mild, moderate, and severe OSAS groups was 6.0±1.3, 7.4±1.9, and 9.1±2.1 cm H2O, respectively. The apneahypopnea index (AHI) (r=0.595, P<0.001), arousal index (r=0.542, P<0.001), minimal SaO2 (r=-0.502, P<0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r=0.494, P<0.001), neck circumference (r=0.265, P<0.001), and age (r=-0.164, P=0.019) were significantly correlated with optimal CPAP level. The best predictive equation according to stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was: Optimal CPAP level (cm H2O)=0.681+(0.205×BMI)+(0.040×AHI). Forty-two percent of the variance in the optimal CPAP level was explained by this equation (R2=0.42, P<0.001).ConclusionA predictive equation for optimal CPAP level in Korean patients with OSAS was developed using AHI and BMI, which can be easily measured during the diagnostic process