Deep tissue space-gated microscopy via acousto-optic interaction

© 2020, The Author(s).To extend the imaging depth of high-resolution optical microscopy, various gating operations—confocal, coherence, and polarization gating—have been devised to filter out the multiply scattered wave. However, the imaging depth is still limited by the multiply scattered wave that bypasses the existing gating operations. Here, we present a space gating method, whose mechanism is independent of the existing methods and yet effective enough to complement them. Specifically, we reconstruct an image only using the ballistic wave that is acousto-optically modulated at the object plane. The space gating suppresses the multiply scattered wave by 10–100 times in a highly scattering medium, and thus enables visualization of the skeletal muscle fibers in whole-body zebrafish at 30 days post fertilization. The space gating will be an important addition to optical-resolution microscopy for achieving the ultimate imaging depth set by the detection limit of ballistic wav

Effects of Concentration Training with Brainwave Biofeedback on Tennis Performance

2001This article presents evidence of effectiveness of 12-week concentration training program with brainwave biofeedback on concentration ability and tennis performance. Eight male tennis players were divided into two groups (Experimental and Control). Experimental group (n = 4) completed a series of training program using the Q-Jump computer system. Experimental task was one-set tennis singles with no-ad scoring system. The participants responded to the Korean version of the Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS) before and after the experiment. The results revealed that the concentration training program (a) was effective in improving concentration intensity and duration, (b) led to significant impact on attentional style, and (c) helped to improve tennis performance. Correlational analyses revealed negative relationships between concentration indices and unforced errors. Overall, these findings suggest that concentration is critical mental skill in tennis and can be improved through systematic training program

Decreased health-related quality of life in disease-free survivors of differentiated thyroid cancer in Korea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Concern regarding the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of long-term survivors of thyroid cancer has risen due to the rapid increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer, which generally has an excellent prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of HRQOL in disease-free survivors of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and to evaluate the important determinants of HRQOL.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a cross-sectional study in which we interviewed consecutive disease-free survivors of DTC. Three different validated questionnaires ("EORTC QLQ-C30" for various functional domains, the "brief fatigue inventory (BFI)" and the "hospital anxiety and depression scale" (HADS)) were used. Data from a large, population based survey of 1,000 people were used as a control.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The response rate for the questionnaires was 78.9% (316/401). Disease-free survivors of DTC showed a decreased HRQOL in all five functional domains (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, and social) on the EORTC QLQ-C30 compared with controls (<it>P </it>< 0.01). BFI and HADS-anxiety scores also showed greater distress in disease-free survivors of DTC than in controls (<it>P </it>< 0.05). A multiple regression analysis for the determinants of HRQOL showed that the HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and BFI scores were the most significant components of decreased HRQOL.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although disease-free survivors of DTC are expected to have disease-specific survival comparable to the general population, they experience a significantly decreased HRQOL. Anxiety, depression, and fatigue were the major determinants of the decreased HRQOL. Supportive psychological care should be integrated into the management of long-term survivors of DTC.</p

Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation by Metal-Doped Bismuth Vanadate Photoanode with Iron Oxyhydroxide Electrocatalyst

Intensive attention has been currently focused on the discovery of semiconductor and proficient cocatalysts for eventual applications to the photoelectrochemical water splitting system. A W-Mo-doped BiVO4 semiconductor was prepared by the surfactant-assisted thermal decomposition method on a fluorine-doped tin oxide conductive film. The W-Mo-doped BiVO4 films showed a porous morphology with the grain sizes of about 270 nm. Because the hole diffusion length of BiVO4 is about 100 nm, the W-Mo-doped BiVO4 film in this study is an ideal candidate for the photoelectrochemical water oxidation. Iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) electrocatalyst was chemically deposited on the W-Mo-doped BiVO4 to investigate the effect of the electrocatalyst on the semiconductor. The W-Mo-doped BiVO4/FeOOH composite electrode showed enhanced activity compared to the pristine W-Mo-doped BiVO4 electrode for water oxidation reaction. The chemical deposition is a promising method for the deposition of FeOOH on semiconductor

Association of the perfusion index with postoperative acute kidney injury: a retrospective study

Background Many studies have examined the risk factors for postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), but few have focused on intraoperative peripheral perfusion index (PPI) that has recently been shown to be associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between intraoperative PPI and postoperative AKI under the hypothesis that lower intraoperative PPI is associated with AKI occurrence. Methods We retrospectively searched electronic medical records to identify patients who underwent surgery at the general surgery department from May 2021 to November 2021. Patient baseline characteristics, pre- and post-operative laboratory test results, comorbidities, intraoperative vital signs, and discharge profiles were obtained from the Institutional Clinical Data Warehouse and VitalDB. Intraoperative PPI was the primary exposure variable, and the primary outcome was postoperative AKI. Results Overall, 2,554 patients were identified and 1,586 patients were included in our analysis. According to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, postoperative AKI occurred in 123 (7.8%) patients. We found that risks of postoperative AKI increased (odds ratio: 2.00, 95% CI [1.16, 3.44], P = 0.012) when PPI was less than 0.5 for more than 10% of surgery time. Other risk factors for AKI occurrence were male sex, older age, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, obesity, underlying renal disease, prolonged operation time, transfusion, and emergent operation. Conclusions Low intraoperative PPI was independently associated with postoperative AKI